Mother of slain YSU student attends hearing

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The mother of a murdered Youngstown State University student said she is putting the fate of his accused killers in the hands of future jurors and the court.

Shirlene Hill, mother of Jamail Johnson who was shot and killed during an off-campus party in February 2011, attended the suppression hearing earlier this week of Columbus Jones, 23, of Cambridge Avenue.

Jones was indicted on a murder charge in Johnson’s death as well as 11 counts of felonious assault with firearm specifications on all counts, improperly discharging a gun into a habitation and illegal gun possession.

Jones is asking the court to throw out videotaped statements made to police shortly after Johnson was killed. He said the statements were not voluntarily made.

Jones is set to go on trial Aug. 13.

Hill and her family said they are looking for justice for Jamail and do not want anything held back from jurors, but they want the jury and the court to decide the fate of those accused in his murder.

The shootings, which also injured other people, occurred at an Indiana Avenue house party just north of campus. Jones is one of six defendants charged with various offenses related to the incident.