Michael Simpson

Michael Simpson, a 38-year-old Black man, was killed in his home city of Syracuse, New York, on the night of September 10, 2021. His death was recorded as the city's 18th homicide of the year and prompted a swift and thorough police investigation.

The fatal incident unfolded on the city’s southside shortly after 11 p.m. that Friday. Syracuse Police officers were dispatched to the 2500 block of Midland Avenue in response to reports of a loud fight. When they arrived, they discovered Michael Simpson inside a residence at 2505 Midland Ave. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his midsection. Emergency responders transported him to Upstate Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

In the days that followed, detectives worked to piece together the circumstances of the shooting. The investigation involved interviewing numerous individuals, collecting physical evidence, and executing search warrants. Through this process, authorities identified a suspect in the case: 26-year-old Nehemiah Jones.

On Monday, September 13, 2021, just three days after the shooting, Nehemiah Jones turned himself in to the police. He was arrested without incident and subsequently charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Jones was held at the Onondaga County Justice Center as his case proceeded. He was later convicted for the murder of Michael Simpson and was sentenced on September 2, 2022, bringing the case to a legal conclusion as of that month.