JONESTOWN — Two of Jonestown resident Lil Johnny Jones’ family members were found dead in the past three years and both cases remain unsolved, so he came to the city council meeting Monday night, Dec. 3, calling for action and making threats in the process.
Jones’ son was murdered about three years ago in the county and found dead by Coldwater River, while his nephew was found dead in the area of the city park on Halloween 2017.
“To my point, Jonestown is not doing the job and I mean that,” Jones said. “If I’ve got to do my own job again, I’m going to do it again. I will put that straight to my heart. I’m not going to lie for nobody. They can come on with it because when I find the person that done it, I’m going to get them. I’ll put it straight to the heart.”
Jones said investigators are not doing their jobs and things are not as they used to be in Jonestown.
“The only problem with that is we can’t allow you to sit here and say that once you find out who did it…,” said mayor Kenny Lester in response.
“The county police department ain’t doing it,” replied Jones while Lester was talking, adding the Jonestown police are not doing the job either.
“I’m going to have to do my own by myself and I promise you that.”
After Jones said his son was found dead by the Coldwater River, alderman Unta Wiley replied, “That’s in the county. That’s not in Jonestown.”
“Man, I’m done with it,” Jones responded. “I’m telling you the truth. It comes straight from the heart. I’m done with it. I’m taking this in my own hands and I mean that.”
Lester acknowledged he does not know how Jones feels as he has not been in that situation.
“I’m telling you it comes straight from my heart I’m going to do what I’ve got to do and I mean that,” Jones said again.
Jones said nothing has been done about the murders, but if he is driving under the influence, he would be stopped.
Lester said he would call county officials and find out about Jones’ son’s case.
“I’m going to settle that myself if I got to,” Jones said. “I’ll put my hands on Jesus Christ. I will die for that. Not a day goes by where I don't think of my child. Anybody here lose his child? Ain’t nobody knows what I go through.
“I lived my life. I’m 48 years old. Trust me, whoever killed my son, I know who did and I know who got something to do with it, I’m going to put it right here to my heart and I mean it.
“I’m going to take care of my business.
“When it comes from me, you’re going to have to kill me. I’m done with it.”
Jones’ words led to a discussion about a lack of officers in the Jonestown police department.
Chief Rico Smith, who works part-time, is the lone officer in the department.
Water department head Lewarn “Killer” Flowers questioned if Lester actually had the equipment that was used by the two officers laid off earlier in the year.
“This man here, I understand he’s upset, but we don’t have no officers,” Flowers said. “We can’t get the equipment and then I hear rumors about the mayor gave the firearms to the streets so they can kill me and the chief. Now, I want to put it to rest right now. Is the equipment upstairs or not? We’ve been asking for the equipment for so long. Can I lay eyes on the equipment?”
Flowers asked if he couldn't see the equipment, would it be OK to carry a firearm in the morning to work?
Lester said a time would be worked out for others to see he had the equipment.
Later in the meeting, alderman Gregory Neely Sr. raised serious concerns about Jones’ statements.
“The gentleman who made his presentation, we’ve got a serious issue here,” Neely said. “A citizen come in here and make threats like that and we only got one police officer in the town, that’s serious.”
Neely said, when someone gets hurt, the first thing people will say is there is only one officer in Jonestown.
“What scared me was he said, 'I’m 48. I’ve lived my life,'” said Coahoma County Board of Supervisors member Derrell Washington, who represents Jonestown, from the audience.
“You can joke about this if you want to,” Neely said. “You can take this lightly if you want to, but somebody ought to think seriously.”
Lester said he believed Jones was just venting and would speak with him.
During Smith’s report, he said the officers who were laid off said they were willing to come back, but the mayor has not provided them equipment.
Lester continued to say financial issues are causing him not to bring the officers back.
“The clerk said he we have money to pay them,” Neely said. “You’re saying we don’t?”
Lester said bringing the officers back would cost Jonestown an estimated $120,000 a year with salaries, gas, a car, insurance and other things. Since there is not a big crime problem, he said the town should save the money.
He also said Jonestown is not collecting money for tickets handed out.
“They give them a ticket, we can’t force them to pay the ticket. We have over 14,000 tickets sitting on the books,” said Lester, adding the law does not allow them to go to jail.
Jonestown resident Evelyn Veasley took issue with that.
“I just think that needs to be revisited because that doesn’t make sense on any level that we’re giving tickets out in the small town – we count just as much as a big town,” she said. “If these people are out violating law and you’re giving tickets and we’re not getting the money, I’m just a little bit confused.”
Smith confirmed, for the most part, in a small municipality like Jonestown, Lester’s statement was true, but a driver’s license can still be suspended.
In other business:
* Lester made a proposal to the council that city employees would not receive overtime pay unless there was an emergency. That was voted down.
* The council voted to place an advertisement in the newspaper to find a new city attorney after Carlos Moore was terminated from the position.
* It was announced the Jonestown Christmas parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday.
