Sammie DeWayne Jones Jr., a 28-year-old man from Fort Worth, Texas, was shot dead at his apartment on September 4, 2017. He answered the door to calm Kevin Ashley Parnell, who was threatening and demanding to see Jones’ roommate; after a brief verbal exchange Parnell shot Jones in the face, and Jones died at the scene.

After the killing Parnell deleted threatening messages he had sent to the roommate, buried his clothes, disassembled the murder weapon and threw parts over an overpass. Parnell was arrested and charged with murder; he was later sentenced to 46 years in prison for Jones’ death and received an additional two years for tampering with evidence. Jones’ graveside service was held September 9, 2017, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Henderson, Texas.

The messages Parnell sent before the killing included racist remarks and threats, and the question of a hate crime was raised though the case was prosecuted as murder. Anyone who knew Sammie Jones or has information about the events of September 4, 2017, is encouraged to come forward.