Jones knew Chris because they played basketball together, and Jones helped him take the ACT test. His sister described the shooter as a “Black man wearing a stocking cap with half an inch of hair hanging out.” Three suspects interviewed by local police pinned Jones and a high school basketball teammate, Chris.ĭespite a lack of evidence to directly connect Jones with the murder, according to Jones’ supporters, he was convicted. Howell was shot 20 miles away from Jones while he was in his car. I had no idea anybody had been shot or killed.” Jones was passionate about school and basketball at the time, and was on the verge of acquiring a basketball scholarship, according to the university. Julius Jones was a 19-year-old university student at the University of Oklahoma when he was targeted as the prime suspect in the killing of Paul Howell, a white businessman.Īccording to Jones, on the night Howell was murdered, he was at his parents’ house playing board games with his siblings and eating dinner.

Stitt announced his decision on Twitter, saying he came to the decision after “prayerful consideration.” Many advocates, although happy Jones has been spared from state-sanctioned murder, argue life without parole is too punitive, and allows no opportunity for restorative justice for Jones and his family. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Julius Jones has a mounting group of supporters who gathered nearly seven million signatures on his behalf and took his case in front of the parole board.īut despite the parole board twice recommending his death sentence be revised to life without the possibility of parole, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt did not amend his sentence until Thursday, hours before Jones was scheduled to die. Credit…Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman, via Associated Press A rally in support of Julius Jones, a death row prisoner who maintains his innocence in a 1999 killing, was held in September in Oklahoma City during his commutation hearing.

Julius jones story on netflix