A Jonesboro man has been sentenced to two years of probation after admitting to encouraging a juvenile to open fire on a car occupied by his ex-girlfriend and another victim.
Avion Deshawn Jones, 19, pleaded guilty on Friday to a charge of committing a terroristic act, a Class B felony. In exchange for the guilty plea, Second Judicial Circuit Court Judge Randy Philhours handed down the probation sentence, and a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor was dropped.
The charges stem from an incident on January 4 in the 2200 block of Una Street. According to a probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro Police responded that morning to reports of a shooting. Officers arriving at the scene interviewed witnesses, including Jones and a juvenile suspect whose name has not been released.
At the same time, other officers encountered the victims during a traffic stop. The two told police their vehicle had been struck by gunfire as they left the area. The driver sustained an injury due to shattered glass from the car’s window.
Police brought both witnesses and victims to the station for further investigation. During an interview, Jones admitted to being involved in ongoing disputes with one of the victims—his ex-girlfriend.
According to the affidavit, Jones stated that before the shooting, the juvenile had mentioned he would fire at the victims if they returned to the area. Jones told police that when the victims arrived, he informed the juvenile by phone and said, "If he was going to shoot, then to go ahead and shoot."
Shortly afterward, the juvenile opened fire on the victims’ departing vehicle, hitting it multiple times and causing damage. The driver’s injury was consistent with gunfire damage, according to investigators.
The affidavit concluded that there was probable cause to charge Jones due to his encouragement of the shooting and his knowledge of the juvenile's intent. The juvenile suspect is accused of committing offenses involving the discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Jones will now serve a 24-month probation term. No details of further proceedings involving the juvenile suspect have been disclosed.