Opening statements kick off trial of man accused of killing two people near Jackson parade route

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

Jordan Cummins charged in 2023 Hal's St. Paddy's Day parade shooting

THE 12-MEMBER JURY IS COMPOSED OF SIX WOMEN AND SIX MEN, INCLUDING ONE WHITE MAN. >> THERE ARE NOW TWO FEMALE ALTERNATIVES. THE DEFENDANT, JORDAN CUMMINGS, IS. CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER ON MARCH 20, 23 SHOOTING DEATH OF TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH A LARGE CROWD GATHERED FOR THE SAINT PATTY PARADE IN DOWNTOWN JACKSON. JOSHUA SPANN, 27, AND HIS FRIEND, JORDAN SIMPKINS, 23, WERE SHOT TOGETHER while standing with a group on Jefferson Street near the parade route. Now, Cummins is from Rankin County. HE WAS CAPTURED AFTER FLEEING THE SCENE FOLLOWING THE FATAL SHOOTING. CUMMINGS LAWYER. SAYS HE'S ACTING IN LIGID DEFENSE AND HE SAYS HE PLANS TO PRESENT EVIDENCE THAT COULD CHANGE THE PERCEPTION OF THEIR CASE. >> YEAH, WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE JURY THAT WAS PUT IN A BOX TODAY AND JORDAN IS VERY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING HIS, UH, VERSION OF THE EVENTS IN FRONT OF THIS JURY. And I think that's going to be proof that a lot of people didn't know it existed. And I think it's going to change a lot of minds. And I think that will have a considerable impact on the jury. >>AND JUST WHAT. WILL THE DEFENSE'S ARGUMENT BE FOR THIS TRIAL? But that's it, as the Cougs told the judge, they plan to call a list of around 40 witnesses. >> THEY COULD CALL, INCLUDING THE POLICE, INVESTIGATORS AND OTHER AUTHORITIES WHO INVESTIGATED THE FATAL SHOOTING, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE HINDS COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE. THE DEFENSE SAYS IT PLANS TO CALL ONLY TWO WITNESSES THIS AFTERNOON. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY TOLD US THAT JORDAN CUMMINGS IS CONSIDERING WHETHER HE ACTUALLY TAKES THE WITNESS STATION IN HIS OWN DEFENSE. TESTIMONY BEGINS IN THE MORNING WITH OPENING STATEMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES. JUDGE SAYS THIS TRIAL COULD EXTEND UNTIL EARLY NEXT WEEK FOR NOW WE'RE LIVE AT HIN

Opening statements kick off trial of man accused of killing two people near Jackson parade route

Jordan Cummins charged in 2023 Hal's St. Paddy's Day parade shooting

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of killing two people near Hal's St. Paddy's Parade in 2023. Jordan Cummins, 29, is charged with first-degree murder for the death of Joshua Spann, 27 years old. and Auden Simpkins, 23. Capitol Police say Cummins fired randomly into crowds along the parade route near Amite and Jefferson streets on March 25, 2023, in downtown Jackson. Cummins' attorney said he was acting in self-defense. “Jordan is very eager to present his version of events to this jury,” defense attorney Bill Kellums said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of things that people didn’t know, and I think it’s going to change a lot of people’s minds.” Prosecutors told Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Faye Peterson that they have a long list of more than 40 witnesses they plan to call to testify. Kellums said he planned to call only two witnesses.

JACKSON, Miss. —

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of killing two people near Hal's St. Paddy's 2023 parade.

Jordan Cummins, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Joshua Spann, 27, and Auden Simpkins, 23.

Capitol Police said Cummins fired randomly into crowds along the parade route near Amite and Jefferson streets on March 25, 2023, in downtown Jackson. Cummins' attorney said he was acting in self-defense.

“Jordan is very eager to present his version of events to this jury,” defense attorney Bill Kellums said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of things that people didn’t know, and I think it’s going to change a lot of people’s minds.”

Prosecutors told Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Faye Peterson that they have a long list of more than 40 witnesses they plan to call to testify. Kellums said he planned to call only two witnesses.