In the cold of a late December day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the life of a 24-year-old Black / African American man, Terry S. Jones Jr., was tragically cut short. On December 27, 2018, Jones was found deceased in an alley near 45th and Clarke. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, a violent end to a young life that left a community searching for answers.
The initial days of the investigation offered few public leads, leaving family and friends to mourn and wonder who was responsible for this senseless act.
The path to justice began to unfold about a month later, stemming from what appeared to be an unrelated incident. A police chase involving a vehicle believed to be a "mobile drug house" ended in a crash and the arrest of two brothers, Jarmall and Alonzie Bingham. This event would prove to be the crucial break in solving Jones's homicide. As investigators delved into the brothers' activities, they uncovered a connection to a month-long crime spree that included the fatal shooting of Terry Jones.
According to witness statements and court documents, the tragic chain of events was set in motion by the theft of a vehicle belonging to a friend of Jones. Jones and his friend had reportedly seen Jarmall Bingham steal the car. In the days that followed, it is believed that Jones confronted Bingham about the theft. A witness recounted hearing Jones say to Bingham, "How are you going to rob me? I know you. I know your people." It was after this confrontation that a witness stated Bingham shot Jones. The investigation was further solidified when a search of the vehicle the Bingham brothers crashed revealed two guns, one of which matched the description of the weapon used in Jones's murder. Following their arrest, Jarmall Bingham, then 21, and his brother Alonzie, then 20, were charged in connection with a wide-ranging crime spree, with Jarmall facing charges for the death of Terry S. Jones Jr.
