Jason Jamell James was 28 when he was fatally shot on April 9, 2016, in the 500 block of North 31st Street in Fort Pierce, Florida. Known as Dat Boy J. Burner, he was struck once around 1:50 a.m., taken to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute, and died about 12 hours later.

Fort Pierce police arrested 40-year-old Kevin Terrell Thomas at his home a few hours after the shooting. Three eyewitnesses — Vanessa Jones (who was pregnant with James’ child at the time), her father Albert Jones Sr., and James’ cousin Lameshia Bowles — identified Thomas as the shooter, saying he shot James in the head during a street argument. Testimony suggested a motive tied to a dispute between local gangs and accusations that James was playing both sides.

The defense pointed out that no weapon or shell casings were found at the scene and suggested someone else might have fired the fatal shot. The jury convicted Thomas of first-degree murder with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon; he was sentenced to life plus 30 years and the defense indicated plans to appeal. Does anyone have information about James’ life in Fort Pierce or knew him personally?