FAST FACTS:
SGT. CHRIS JONES CHARGED SECOND DEGREE MURDER
WITNESS SAYS JONES SAT ANGRY FOR 45 MINUTES BEFORE SHOOTING
VICTIM'S FAMILY BELIEVES MURDER WAS PREMEDITATED
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(Memphis, TN 3/15/08)
His personnel file says Sergeant Chris Jones was known for 'keeping things under control'. But witnesses say Thursday night, he was cold and even calculating.
"He pulled the gun out, took 2 or 3 steps and grabbed a man by the shirt and put the gun in his face... I heard two shots," says John Flynn. "People were still singing their songs."
Flynn sat next to Sergeant Chris Jones at the Wind Jammer Lounge, and watched as Jones sat brewing. "He was not arguing with anyone, he wasn't yelling at anyone, he was just calm and cold."
Calm but irate. Police reports say Jones got into an argument earlier in the night. A manager tried talking to him with no luck. Flynn overheard Jones say 'Well, I've got nothing to lose" ... "Two [expletive] are gonna die tonight - and 15 others if anybody tries to stop me.'"
Flynn says Jones was angry and thinking for 45 minutes before he stood up and pulled his gun. Donald Munsey tried to intervene and died in the process. Munsey is described as a family-man who always tried to calm nerves.
Munsey's father Carson Munsey says, "45 seconds, 45 minutes, in my opinion it was premeditated." The grieving father has few words for the man who killed his son and is charged with second degree murder.
"Chris Jones is a coward," he says. "My son was a man, and a hero."
David Munsey is the victim's uncle and says, "If you're supposed to be protecting the people, you don't go out and kill them."
The highly commended officer had recently finalized a divorce. His victim's family thinks he needed counseling and says "the system failed for Chris Jones."
Carson Munsey says he'll leave forgiveness up to a judge and jury. Munsey leaves behind three children. His funeral is Monday morning.
