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Left inset: Shirley Johnson (GoFundMe). Right inset: Jamal Jones (City of St. Louis Division of Corrections). Background: The car that Shirley Johnson was sitting in when she was allegedly shot to death by Jamal Jones in St. Louis (KMOV).
In a tragic incident in Missouri, a grandmother lost her life after being shot while sitting in a car with her grandson. The police report that the incident was triggered when the grandson unintentionally backed into a neighbor’s car, leading to the fatal encounter.
During a police interview, 32-year-old Jamal Jones expressed regret, stating, “If anything, I would have rather shot him [the grandson] than her.” This statement came in the wake of the death of 55-year-old Shirley Johnson, who was killed outside her St. Louis home on March 31, as documented in a probable cause affidavit.
Jones reportedly confessed to firing shots at the vehicle occupied by Johnson and her grandson, Markel McCurry, right after the car accidentally hit his. According to the affidavit, Jones claimed his intention was to scare the grandson, preventing any further damage to his car.
McCurry recounted to the authorities that he exited the vehicle with the intention of offering compensation for any damage. It was only then that he realized his grandmother had been shot in the back and was in critical condition. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Johnson was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The affidavit details that McCurry heard a loud sound from outside the car, prompting him to step out and attempt to speak with Jones. Jones later confirmed that McCurry had approached him with an offer to pay for the damages caused by the collision.
McCurry told local CBS affiliate KMOV that he went into “shock” after realizing what had happened. “We heard a shot, pow,” he recalled. “I’m saying like, ‘Show me where I hit [Jones’ car], if you come down here and show me.’ … I go look around and see blood coming from her body. … I’m in awe.”
McCurry described how Johnson “meant everything” to him and was his “best friend,” according to KMOV. The shooting has left him feeling guilty, he said.
“I don’t feel like I saved the day,” McCurry explained. “Superheroes save the day. I wasn’t a big enough superhero for not just somebody random but for my grandmother.”
Describing the relationship they had, McCurry told KMOV, “She always texts me every time she cook[s]: ‘I’m cooking today, baby.’ So, I know I’m never gonna get [those] text messages.”
The grieving grandson wrote on GoFundMe that he is “trying to cope with this loss” in the wake of what happened. “My grandmother was shot and killed right in front of me,” he said in the description.
Jones was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and assault. An order for detention says Jones works at a post office and has no criminal history, per his defense attorney. The document claims he is “having memory issues currently.”
A bond hearing has been set for Wednesday.