On a tragic night over Memorial Day weekend in 2017, 18-year-old Jordan Eugene Blackwell was killed in a shooting spree that claimed the lives of eight people in Lincoln County, Mississippi. The devastating events unfolded on May 27th, beginning at a home in Bogue Chitto and extending to two other residences in Brookhaven.
The violence began when Willie Cory Godbolt, 35 at the time, went to his in-laws' home where his estranged wife was staying with their children.
An argument ensued, and Lincoln County Sheriff's Deputy William Durr was dispatched to the scene. Godbolt opened fire, killing Deputy Durr, his mother-in-law Barbara Mitchell, and two other relatives, Brenda May and Toccara May.
Godbolt then traveled to a second home in Brookhaven where several teenagers were present. There, he fatally shot Jordan Blackwell and his 11-year-old cousin, Austin Edwards. A surviving witness later recounted that Jordan had shielded his younger cousin from the gunfire in a heroic attempt to save him. Before leaving, Godbolt kidnapped a teenager and forced him to drive. The rampage continued at a third location where Godbolt killed Ferral and Sheila Burage. Godbolt was ultimately apprehended by authorities after being shot and wounded.
In the aftermath, Willie Cory Godbolt was charged with multiple counts of capital murder, murder, attempted murder, and kidnapping. In February 2020, a jury found him guilty on all counts. Godbolt was subsequently sentenced to death for four of the murders, including Jordan Blackwell's, and received life in prison for the others. His appeals to the Mississippi Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court have been denied, upholding his conviction and sentence. He remains on death row at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. In addition to the criminal proceedings, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the Blackwell family against Godbolt.
