LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- John 'Hot Boy' Jones seems to be an elusive criminal not because he can't be caught, but because a murder charge doesn't seem to ever stick. Back in 2005, police arrested then 18-year-old Jones and charged him for the shooting death of Christopher Harrison on June 16, 2005. The crime happened at 39th and Main Streets. Police said back then Jones shot Harrison and another man multiple times.
In 2005, we talked to Prosecutor John Heck about this case, who said they didn't have a lot of evidence and witnesses didn't come forward. Heck stated then 'When you're dealing with one gang member taking out a drug dealer, this is going to scare the community. People in this community don't want to get involved out of fear of their own safety.' Heck offered Jones a lesser charge of reckless homicide if he would plead guilty. Jones took the plea and was released from jail less than a year after the shooting, in April of 2006.
Then just a year later, in April 2007, another shooting death was linked Jones. This one was at a gas station on Broadway, and the victim was James Bland. The day of the murder we talked to Bland's grandmother who said 'They told us he was here getting some gas, putting gas in a can, and someone wearing a hood on his head walked up and started shooting.' In March 2009 Jones was acquitted of Bland's murder.
Now, in 2011, Jones is wanted again. Police say he shot a woman in St. Matthews at the Jamestown Apartment complex across the street from Baptist Hospital East. Police say they're not sure if it was a carjacking or robbery, but they say when Jones approached the woman's car she tried to drive off. Then police say he backed up and shot into the car, striking the woman in the head. She survived and police are hunting Jones once again.
Detective Larry Alvey spoke with us off camera Sunday. He says the woman shot at Jamestown Apartments is doing very well, and that at this time Jones will likely face a persistent felony offender charge, which carries with it a minimum 10 year sentence.
