In the early hours of a Thursday morning in Jackson, Mississippi, three-year-old Armon Burton was asleep in his bed when a barrage of bullets tore through his family's home. It was just after midnight on May 22, 2014, when the shots rang out, shattering the quiet of the neighborhood. One of those bullets struck the young male, tragically ending his life.
An obituary confirmed his age and the date of his death.
The subsequent investigation by the Jackson Police Department revealed a scene of chaos and violence. At least 27 bullet holes riddled the house, indicating the use of an assault rifle in the attack. The fatal shot struck Armon in the back and exited through his head. Police quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence, but rather a targeted attack on the residence. The young boy was an unintended victim, caught in the crossfire of a conflict he had no part in.
Investigators learned that the fatal shooting may have been preceded by an earlier altercation. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the area a few hours before the incident that claimed Armon's life. They recounted an argument and an exchange of gunfire between a resident of the home and individuals in a truck. However, when police were initially called to the scene for 'shots fired,' they were unable to get a specific address or cooperation from anyone in the area.
This reluctance to cooperate became a significant hurdle in the investigation into Armon's murder. Despite the brutal nature of the crime, many in the neighborhood were tight-lipped, expressing a fear of getting involved. This silence from the community hampered the police's ability to identify a suspect or suspects. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement officials made public appeals for information, urging anyone with knowledge of the shooting to come forward. They emphasized that someone in the community likely knew who was responsible for the death of the young child. However, despite these pleas and the ongoing investigation, no arrests have ever been publicly announced in the case, and the identity of the person or persons who fired the fatal shots remains unknown.
