St. Paddy’s Day shooter, Jordan Cummins, double murder trial underway

UPDATE – June 19, 10:43 a.m. – Jordan Cummins has been found guilty on two counts of first degree murder.

JACKSON, Miss. — The trial of accused killer Jordan Cummins began Tuesday at the Hinds County Courthouse. Prosecutors allege Cummins, 29, shot and killed Joshua Spann, 27, and Auden Jubilee Simpkins, 23, during the Jackson St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 25, 2023.

The state has charged Cummins with two counts of first-degree murder. During opening statements, prosecutors argued Cummins opened fire on a group of individuals after they intervened in an altercation between Cummins and his girlfriend, Jenny Lukens.

Prosecutors allege Cummins was striking Lukens in his parked vehicle, across from the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, when a truck driven by Kam Owens and carrying a group of friends witnessed the abuse and stopped. Spann and Simpkins were among the passengers.

Several passengers, including Spann, approached Cummins’ car. Jubilee Simpkins did not. Cummins allegedly opened fire, killing both Spann and Simpkins, who had remained in the back of Owens’ truck.

Cummins’ defense attorney, Bill Kellum, told the jury they intend to prove Cummins acted in self-defense. Kellum argued his client only pulled his gun after Owens opened the door to Cummins’ car and began hitting him. He claimed others in Owens’ party, including Spann, pulled weapons before Cummins fired.

On Tuesday, witnesses included the officer who first responded to the scene and Mississippi Bureau of Investigations forensic investigator Ty Parker. Parker testified about the bullet casings and projectiles discovered at the scene. The jury viewed photographs of the bodies of both Spann and Simpkins, drawing emotional responses from family members.

Hinds County prosecutors also called three friends of Jenny Lukens who had been at the parade with Cummins and Lukens. Jordan Jagger testified that she, her sister Brook McFarland, Cummins, and Lukens went to a liquor store to purchase alcohol before the parade.

Jagger believed Cummins consumed a fifth of Crown Royal during the parade. McFarland testified that Cummins also smoked marijuana that day.

According to Jagger, Cummins touched her in a way that agitated Lukens once they were at a friend’s tent. A fight ensued between Cummins and Lukens. Cummins allegedly pushed Lukens against a tent pole with his hand clutched around her jaw. All three witnesses testified that McFarland intervened. Cummins then asked Lukens for his gun and said he would “flatline this b–ch.”

Witnesses indicated Cummins was asked to leave the tent, and he and Lukens complied. Jagger and McFarland testified this incident occurred approximately 30 minutes before the eventual shooting.

Prosecutors argue the earlier fight at the tent helps establish that Cummins was abusive to Lukens at the time of the shooting. It also suggests the intervention was warranted and that Cummins’ actions were premeditated rather than reactionary. Additionally, it establishes a timeline of events.

On Wednesday, the jury viewed video of the incident. Steven Porter, one of the men who intervened along with Owens and Spann, described the events. He testified his group saw Cummins punching Lukens from inside their vehicle and stopped to help.

Porter walked the jury through the group approaching Cummins’ car, Owens opening Cummins’ car door, Cummins pulling his weapon, the group scattering, and the subsequent shooting. He testified Spann and another individual in their party pulled guns only after Cummins had drawn his weapon and that only Cummins fired.

Porter described witnessing the deaths of Spann and Simpkins and picking up Spann’s gun after he had been shot. He said Cummins and Lukens got in their car and sped off after the shooting.

After Porter’s testimony, Judge Peterson addressed the courtroom about potential evidentiary violations during the Cummins trial. Peterson referred to jailhouse phone call recordings between prospective witness Lindsey Emmerson and Lukens, in which Emmerson relayed a “play-by-play” of testimony.

Peterson also referenced a three-way call between Cummins, Lukens, and Cummins’ mom, Angie Kellum, in which they discussed trial testimony. Cummins and Lukens are under a “no contact” order. Witnesses are generally disallowed from discussing testimony to prevent collusion.

Peterson placed Kellum into custody and had her led out of the courtroom by bailiffs. He issued a “show cause” order against Kellum, describing potential “witness tampering, obstruction of justice, subornation of perjury,” and violations of evidence rules and the no contact order.

In June of last year, authorities charged Lukens with hindering the prosecution. Both Lukens and Cummins had their bond revoked earlier this year for violating the Court’s no contact order.