Deputy’s case to be presented to jury

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 14, 2003

[7/13/03]Delayed twice, the case of a man fatally shot by a Warren County Deputy Sheriff is among those to go before this week’s grand jury.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office is to present evidence in the Oct. 26 fatal shooting of Jimmie Taylor II, who was 22, by Deputy Sheriff Lionel Johnson, District Attorney Gil Martin said.

The case was scheduled to be presented to grand juries in January and May, but it was delayed, both times on requests from Taylor’s family.

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The first was because witnesses were identified who had not been interviewed by the investigating agency, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, and not all results had been received from evidence-processing by the state crime laboratory, Martin has said. The second resulted from an expression of mistrust of the prospective presentation of the case by Martin’s office, he has said.

“The case was ready to go, but I think the family preferred that somebody not so closely associated with” the people involved present it, Martin said after the May delay.

Lee Martin, of the attorney general’s office and not related to the district attorney, will present evidence from the highway patrol’s investigation, Gil Martin said. Lee Martin was not available.

The purpose of the presentation would be for a grand jury to decide what, if any, criminal charges against Johnson the evidence in the case warrants. Among the duties of grand juries, composed of at least 18 citizens who meet in private, is to consider the state’s evidence in criminal cases.

Johnson has not been arrested or charged in the case. He has remained on administrative leave with pay until the case goes to the grand jury.

The shooting happened outside the Taylor home, 4808 Halls Ferry Road, during a Saturday night birthday party for Taylor’s younger brother.

Initial reports indicated Johnson and another deputy responded to a 911 call complaining that cars were parked in the two-lane road near the house.

Reports on what happened next differ. Johnson has said the situation got out of control and that he was assaulted by Taylor and others. Call logs show he pressed the “officer in trouble” button on his hand-held radio.

Family members and witnesses have said Taylor was handcuffed and on the ground when he was shot.

Johnson’s attorney, David Sessums, has said test results show no evidence that Taylor was in handcuffs and has “vindicated” the deputy. He has also said the shooting was a clear case of self-defense.

For a grand jury to return an indictment, at least 12 grand jurors must vote that there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

This week’s grand jury, which begins with jury selection Monday, will be presided over by Warren County Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick.

The session is expected to end Thursday, Martin said.

Two other slaying cases are to be presented to the grand jury.

In one, Alonzo D. Blackmore, 23, 203 Smith Place, is charged with murder in the March 18 death of his girlfriend, Mary Shelly, who was 32.

Initial investigation indicated Blackmore and Shelly were sitting in a car two days earlier when they argued and she was shot, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said at the time.

Blackmore, who apparently drove Shelly to River Region Medical Center, was arrested there, on an initial charge of aggravated assault. Shelly later died at University Medical Center in Jackson.

Blackmore is also charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

In the other, Glenn Johnson, 43, 317 Meadowvale Drive, is charged with murder in the March 18 shooting death of Gregory Fonger, 44, of the same address. Police described Johnson as the boyfriend of Fonger’s sister.

A feud had reportedly been brewing between the two housemates, but police reported no specifics of what may have caused the argument that led to the shooting. It was reported to E-911 at 2:38 p.m.

Grand jurors were to hear 68 cases, including 22 involving sale or possession of illegal drugs, Martin said. Of the drug cases, 13 involve possession and nine, sale, he added.

Of the remaining 43 cases, 10 involve forgery; seven, felony passing of bad checks; six, embezzlement; five, burglary; three, aggravated assault; two each of third offenses of driving under the influence of alcohol, receiving stolen property and stalking; and one each of auto theft, child desertion, a third offense of domestic violence and failure to register as a sex offender.

In one of the cases involving an aggravated assault charge, a Vicksburg teen was treated for serious head injuries at University Medical Center in Jackson on April 4 after an argument that police believed started in a North Frontage Road parking lot.

John Thomason IV, 18, was struck in his head outside a business across Interstate 20 from where the argument began, police said.

“His head apparently either hit the ground or struck some object,” Vicksburg Police Chief Tommy Moffett said of Thomason the next day.

Police arrested Christopher Wheeler, 26, 130 Jordan Road, Rayville, at 10:53 p.m., shortly after the assault was reported.