Princeton Nicholas Jones was a bright and loving 9-year-old boy with a brilliant mind and a warm heart. His family described the young Black child as a beacon of joy who lit up every room with his humor and infectious smile. Diagnosed with mild autism at age two, Princeton worked tirelessly with his mother’s support and began speaking fluently by the time he was five.
His mother, Creole Green, said her goal was to give him the teachings he needed to one day navigate the world independently.
On the evening of November 30, 2024, that future was cut short. At approximately 7:30 p.m., Princeton was at his grandfather’s home in Compton, California, near Haskins Avenue. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call and found Princeton in the backyard of the residence suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly focused on Princeton’s biological father, 32-year-old Nicholas Thomas Jones. He was arrested the following day, on December 1, 2024, on suspicion of murder and child abuse resulting in death. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office formally charged him with one count of murder and one count of willful cruelty to a child. Prosecutors also filed sentence enhancements for using a gun and causing harm that resulted in death.
At his arraignment, Nicholas Jones pleaded not guilty to the charges and was held on $2 million bail. In the days that followed, Princeton’s mother spoke publicly, expressing her devastation and confusion. “I don’t know what happened,” she said. “I came to the scene and police told me my baby was gone.”
Later in the legal proceedings, Nicholas Jones pleaded no contest to the charge of murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve 15 years to life in prison for the death of his son.
