In the summer of 2017, the life of 32-year-old Christopher Coleman was tragically cut short in Mobile, Alabama. On the morning of July 29th, the body of the Black / African American man was discovered lying in the street in front of a residence on Fry Street. The Mobile Police Department's Homicide Unit immediately launched an investigation into his death, seeking help from the public for any information regarding his whereabouts in the days leading up to the discovery of his body.
The
investigation led to a significant development in September 2017 with the arrest of Richard Jones. His apprehension came after a tense standoff with police. Jones was subsequently charged with two separate murders: the killing of 37-year-old Eppie Farris in June 2017 and the shooting death of Christopher Coleman in July of the same year.
While an arrest was made, the path to justice for Coleman's loved ones took an unexpected turn. In October 2020, a jury acquitted Richard Jones of Christopher Coleman's murder. Despite the acquittal in Coleman's case, Jones was found guilty of the murder of Eppie Farris in February 2022 and was sentenced to life in prison in April of that year. The verdict in Coleman's case left his family, including his children, continuing to seek answers and justice for their father's death, publicly pleading for anyone with information to come forward. The Mobile Police Department has continued to encourage the public to provide any knowledge they might have about the incident.
