On a cold January night in Jackson, Mississippi, the life of 37-year-old Horatio Hunt Sr. was tragically cut short. On January 2, 2017, the Black/African American man was shot multiple times on Center Street and died at the scene. The fatal encounter also left his 19-year-old son, Horatio Hunt Jr., wounded with a gunshot to his ear, though he ultimately survived the violent attack.
The incident unfolded as an apparent robbery.
The investigation revealed that a man named Jamonta Jackson had arranged to meet with the Hunts. Once they arrived at the location, Jackson opened fire on both father and son, robbing the elder Hunt. Following the shooting, Jackson fled the scene in a white vehicle. The crime marked the first homicide of the year for the city of Jackson.
A few days after the murder, law enforcement located and apprehended Jamonta Jackson at a hotel in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Jackson, who was also known by the aliases 'Out West Tay' and 'Bae Bae,' was subsequently charged with capital murder and aggravated assault for his roles in the death of Horatio Hunt Sr. and the wounding of his son.
In July of 2021, the legal proceedings against Jamonta Jackson came to a close. He was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated assault. The sentencing marked the culmination of a lengthy investigation and legal process to bring a measure of justice to the Hunt family for their profound loss.
