Jermaine D. Mullen, a 29-year-old man, passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Williamsport, PA. His death was not an accident, but a homicide that cut his life short in the early morning hours. Jermaine, also known as Poppy, was remembered for his larger-than-life personality and his ability to fill any room with humor. He was a beloved son, brother, and friend who was known for his passionate and protective nature.
On that fateful morning around 3:30 a.m., city police responded
to calls of gunshots in the 1000 block of Memorial Avenue. There they discovered Jermaine's body in the street; he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from four gunshot wounds: two to his back, one to his shoulder, and one to his face that appeared to be from close range. When police found him, he had no identification, wallet, or money in his pockets. Nearby on Isabella Street, authorities located Mullen's car, which had crashed into a parked vehicle with the engine still running.
The investigation into Jermaine's death led authorities to two men, Benjamin Villanueva III and Davon Tamel Grissom. Surveillance footage played a key role in piecing together the events of that night. Investigators determined that Mullen had been at a downtown tavern just hours before the shooting. It was there that he was seen with Villanueva. Police allege that Villanueva and Grissom coordinated to rob Mullen, who was known to have a significant amount of cash on him. The prosecution theorized that at some point, Villanueva forced Mullen into the trunk of his own car and tied him up with his shoelaces. It is believed that after Mullen managed to open the trunk from the inside and started to run, Villanueva jumped from the moving car and began shooting.
Benjamin Villanueva, 33, was arrested in Hartford, Connecticut, in February 2024 and extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges. In January, a jury found him guilty of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and carrying a firearm without a license. Following his conviction, authorities arrested 38-year-old Davon Grissom in March 2026. Grissom faces a slew of charges, including second-degree murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and kidnapping for his alleged role in the events that led to Jermaine Mullen's death.
