Jimmy L. Longshore Jr. was a beloved father, son, and brother who was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. Born on August 25, 1990, to Octavia L. Hill and Jimmy L. Longshore Sr., he was known as a loving and caring man who was full of life. At 27 years old, Jimmy was the proud father of three children: JiMarionna Longshore, Javier Longshore, and DeVon Chester. He remained best friends with the mother of his children, Shaneaqua McDew. He was part of a large, close-knit family and leaves behind his parents, numerous siblings, stepbrothers, grandparents, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who cherished their time with him.
On the night of Wednesday, November 8, 2017, Jimmy’s life was cut short by violence. At approximately 10:21 p.m., Canton Police officers were called to the 3300 block of 31st Street NE following reports of a man found lying in a backyard. When they arrived, they discovered Jimmy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Tragically, his injuries were fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:50 p.m. by an investigator from the Stark County Coroner's Office. An autopsy was scheduled to officially determine the cause of death.
The Canton Police Department’s Detective Bureau immediately launched a homicide investigation. Detectives canvassed the neighborhood, interviewing potential witnesses and searching for evidence. The head of the Detective Bureau, Capt. David Kurzinsky, stated that investigators were looking into the possibility that gunshots had been exchanged. While police identified "people of interest" in the case, they did not publicly name any suspects or establish a motive for the shooting in the initial days of the investigation. No arrest warrants were immediately issued.
Jimmy's death marked the 14th homicide in the city of Canton in 2017, a year that was on track to be one of the deadliest on record for the community. The city had recorded 12 homicides in all of 2016. The investigation into Jimmy's murder remains open, but as of December 2017, no arrests had been made, and the case was listed as unsolved.
In the days following his death, Jimmy's family and friends gathered to mourn their profound loss. A visitation was held on November 15, 2017, at the Rhoden Memorial Home in Canton, followed by another visitation and a Celebration of Life service the next day at The Martin Center. The outpouring of love from the community was a testament to the impact Jimmy had on those who knew him. His obituary remembered him as a man who went home to be with the Lord, leaving behind a legacy of precious memories for his family and friends.
Years later, the case of who killed Jimmy Longshore Jr. remains unresolved, and his family is still waiting for justice. The Canton Police Department has encouraged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. They asked the public to contact detectives at 330-489-3144 or to submit an anonymous tip through the city's Tip411 line by texting the word "canton" and the tip to 847411.
