Jesse T. Hill Jr., a 24-year-old man from Canton, Ohio, died from a gunshot wound on May 5, 2018. The shooting happened at a house in the 300 block of Ninth Street NE during an evening when people were watching basketball and playing dice.

Prosecutors charged Curtis R. Thomas Jr. with murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault and having weapons while under disability. A key witness, Darion Hubbard, who had initially faced an aggravated murder charge himself, testified that Thomas shot Hill after an altercation over money. Hubbard’s testimony was part of a plea arrangement that reduced his exposure in exchange for cooperating.

The defense argued there was no credible evidence tying Thomas to the killing, and the jury acquitted him of murder and the related counts. The conflicting testimony left the case unresolved in the eyes of the jury, and the death of Jesse Hill remains a reminder of the toll of violence.

Did anyone in Canton know Jesse Hill or have information about the night of May 5, 2018?