Poplar Bluff man gets life for Cape shooting death

The Poplar Bluff man who shot and killed 31-year-old Billy Jones Jr. of Cape Girardeau was sentenced Monday to life in prison by Butler County Judge Mark Richardson.

In November, a jury found Jibril Walton, 26, guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Aug. 18, 2002, death of Jones. The shooting occurred at the National Guard Armory parking lot in Cape Girardeau. The men were in two separate cars parked next to each other. Walton told investigators he was aiming at another man in Jones' car when he fired and that he thought they were about to shoot him. No guns were found in Jones' car, on his person or on his passenger.

The case was moved to Poplar Bluff on a change of venue. Walton received maximum sentences of 15 years in prison for manslaughter and life in prison for armed criminal action, to be served concurrently.

Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said he asked for the toughest punishment available after receiving 17 victim impact statements from Jones' relatives asking for harsh sentencing.

"The phrase 'public enemy' describes Jibril Walton," he told the judge. "He has three felony convictions in three different states. ... And he had chosen a life of guns and drugs and it culminated in his taking the life of another human being by shooting him repeatedly in the back."