Shannon man sentenced to 15 years for 2016 killing

WILLIAM MOORE, Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
·2 min read

TUPELO – A Shannon man pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter this week in connection with a fatal shooting more than 6 years ago.

Xzavious Jamar Johnson, 35, formerly of County Road 54, Shannon, was originally charged with first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in the February 2016 shooting death of Travonte Young at a south Tupelo apartment complex.

Over the years, Johnson has had at least four forensic mental evaluations and at least three trips to the Mississippi State Hospital. During a two-month stay there earlier this year, state doctors ruled him competent to stand trial, saying he could understand the legal proceedings and had the ability to communicate with his attorney.

Johnson was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter this week in Lee County Circuit Court. Judge Michael “Chip” Mills sentenced him to 20 years in prison but suspended 5 years. After completing his incarceration, Johnson will have to serve another five yers of post-release supervision.

On the separate weapons charge, Johnson was given a 10-year suspended sentence to run consecutive with the manslaughter sentence. If Johnson gets into trouble following his release from the Mississippi Department of Corrections, he could be forced to serve any or all of the suspended sentence.

Tupelo police responded to the Barley Courts apartments around 8:15 p.m. Monday Feb. 8, 2016. A verbal altercation in the parking lot between Johnson, then 27, and Young, 22, escalated. Police at the time said one man called the other a name and things got out of hand. Young was shot three times and died on the way to the hospital.

Witnesses on the scene told officers that the shooter ran into one of the apartments, but when police knocked, no one answered the door. When the SWAT team arrived and knocked on the door, a female opened the door and let them inside.

Johnson, who had a relationship with the female and was known to stay at the apartment at times, was found inside and arrested.

The weapons charge is based on other felony charges dating back 15 years. Johnson was sentenced to five years in 2011 for burglary. In August 2012, he was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon.