In the early hours of May 24, 2016, the life of Joseph Jackson, a 42-year-old African American male, was tragically cut short in what remains an unsolved homicide in Oklahoma City. A respected barber in the community, Jackson was found deceased by a neighbor around 6 a.m. in the garage of his townhouse located in the Rockwell Gardens Complex. Investigators believe the fatal encounter occurred much earlier, at approximately 1 a.m., when neighbors reported hearing gunshots.
The crime scene
offered a few clues but no immediate answers. There were no signs of forced entry, leading detectives to surmise that Jackson likely knew his assailant and willingly opened the door. It appears a struggle ensued near the entrance of the garage. Jackson was shot multiple times and retreated towards his house before succumbing to his injuries. The layout of the garage offered little chance for escape, suggesting the possibility of an ambush.
During the investigation, a potential lead emerged from a soda bottle found near Jackson's body. The bottle contained fingerprints and a DNA profile that did not belong to the victim. This evidence was entered into national databases in 2016, but unfortunately, no matches have been found to date, and subsequent re-runs of the DNA profile have also failed to identify a suspect.
Adding another layer to the stalled investigation, a jailhouse informant later provided a detailed account of the murder to authorities. According to the informant, the motive was a botched robbery. The suspects, one of whom was allegedly seeking revenge over a woman, had a plan to rob Jackson by luring him under the pretense of a female acquaintance he was expecting. Despite this information and the DNA evidence, no arrests have been made in the case. The investigation into Joseph Jackson's death remains open, leaving his family still searching for justice and closure years later.
