In the early morning hours of February 6, 2017, the city of Yazoo City, Mississippi, was the scene of a violent outburst that resulted in the deaths of four men, including 30-year-old Kevin Johnson. The tragic event unfolded outside the L & L Lounge, a nightclub formerly known as Club 66, located on 11th Street. Kevin Johnson, a Black male, was fatally shot along with his uncle, Edward Johnson, 36, Jerrandan Allen, 32, and Gabriel Townsend, 35.
The incident was sparked by a dispute over
a woman. Investigators determined that Briddell Barber, then 27, became enraged when his girlfriend was getting a ride home from the club with one of the victims. In a fit of jealousy, Barber allegedly opened fire. Gabriel Townsend was shot in his car, and Jerrandan Allen was shot when he came to Townsend's aid. Witnesses reported that Barber then chased down Kevin Johnson and shot him before finding and killing his uncle, Edward Johnson. Kevin Johnson and Edward Johnson were both pronounced dead at the scene, while Allen and Townsend later died from their injuries after being airlifted to a hospital in Jackson.
The search for the suspect began immediately, and later that morning, U.S. Marshals apprehended Briddell Barber in Jackson. The investigation revealed that Barber was already facing a murder charge for the March 2016 shooting death of Justin Porter. He had been released on a $100,000 bond at the time of the quadruple homicide, a fact that drew significant criticism from the community and the victims' families.
Barber was charged with capital murder for the deaths of Kevin Johnson, Edward Johnson, Jerrandan Allen, and Gabriel Townsend. In November 2021, to avoid a potential death penalty, Briddell Barber pleaded guilty to the four murders, as well as the 2016 murder of Justin Porter. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a legal conclusion to a case that left a deep scar on the community of Yazoo City.
