On July 19, 2014, 27-year-old Jermaine Cowell was killed in a fatal shooting on a street near his home in Springfield, Massachusetts. Law enforcement described the slaying as believed to be gang-related.

Investigators identified two suspects, 21-year-old Brian Slater and 21-year-old Travis Perkins. The U.S. Marshal Service, Massachusetts State Police and Springfield Police worked together to locate them; arrests were announced October 29, 2014. Slater was taken into custody in Springfield and Perkins was arrested in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Both men were charged with murder. Defense filings included Slater’s attorney arguing there was no evidence he knew Perkins had a gun or intended to kill and that he did not aid Perkins; Perkins denied the charges. Prosecutors said the defendants acted in a joint venture, and defense lawyers asked for separate trials; the judge had not immediately ruled on that request.

If anyone knew Jermaine, witnessed the shooting, or has information about the events that night, please share what is known.