In the days leading up to the New Year, a quiet street in Marion, Indiana, became the scene of a heart-wrenching tragedy that claimed the lives of three family members. On December 30, 2018, 11-year-old Jayzon Blackwell, his 12-year-old brother Javon Blackwell Jr., and their 42-year-old father, Javon Blackwell Sr., were found shot to death inside their home on South Gallatin Street. A relative discovered the devastating scene and immediately alerted the authorities.
The two boys were visiting their father for the holidays when their lives were abruptly cut short.
The community was left in shock by the brutal nature of the crime. Jayzon was remembered as a vibrant and energetic fifth-grader, a 'ball of energy' who often skipped through the hallways of his school and had a passion for drawing characters from his favorite video game. In the wake of the killings, his desk at school became a memorial, adorned with cards from his grieving classmates. The brothers were laid to rest wearing baseball caps in their caskets. Investigators found suspected narcotics at the home, adding a complex layer to the investigation.
The investigation into the triple homicide led to a significant break in the case following a traffic stop nearly two weeks later. Information provided by 29-year-old Lemere Joseph Jones during that stop led to his arrest and the arrests of two other individuals. Jones and 25-year-old Demetrius Jackson were charged with three counts of murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and armed robbery. A third person, 29-year-old Brittany Drake, was charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery in connection with the killings. Authorities revealed that the father, Javon Blackwell Sr., was the intended target of the break-in, and the children were not supposed to be there.
The legal process brought some measure of justice for the grieving family. Lemere Jones and Demetrius Jackson were also implicated in the murder of a 19-year-old man that occurred in November 2018. For his role in the deaths of the Blackwell family, Lemere Jones was sentenced to 195 years in prison. Demetrius Jackson was found guilty of murder and armed robbery charges. Brittany Drake was also facing a trial for her alleged involvement. The arrests and convictions brought a sense of relief to the rattled community, knowing that those responsible for the senseless deaths of a father and his two young sons were held accountable.
