A Grandview man charged with fatally shooting an Olathe teen in 2022 was found guilty Friday by a Johnson County jury.
Deon Eugene Austin, 19, was found guilty of first-degree murder, as well as aggravated battery, for his role in the death of 16-year-old Jammaal Blacknoll Jr., according to the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.
Though Austin was a minor when he was arrested, a Johnson County judge determined in 2023 that Austin would be tried as an adult.
Blacknoll was shot on April 10, 2022, outside the Silverwood Apartments in Mission, Kansas.
Mission Police officers found Blacknoll deceased when responding to the shooting in the parking lot of the apartments around 8:50 p.m., The Star reported in 2022. A 13-year-old girl was also shot but survived her injuries.
Blacknoll and the girl, who were not related, were visiting a mutual family friend at the time of the shooting, Mission Police Department captain Dan Madden told The Star in 2022.
Due to the small size of the Mission Police Department, the shooting was investigated by the Metro Squad, a coalition of officers from other police departments in the Kansas City metro area.
Blacknoll was known to some as Jamal Pratt, taking the name of his stepfather Nathan Pratt II, according to an obituary shared online. Blacknoll was primarily raised by Pratt and mother Caroline Doyle, and spent nearly a decade of his life living in Denver with Pratt, Doyle and his siblings.
It was while living in Denver that Blacknoll discovered his love for sports, according to the obituary. When his family moved from Denver to Olathe, Pratt joined the football team at Olathe North High School and played varsity as a freshman.
Blacknoll is survived by nine siblings. After his death, friends wrote online that Blacknoll spoke excitedly and often of his future, particularly his plans to go to college.
“Jamal was the delight of his family,” the obituary read, “lighting up any room he walked into.”
Austin previously attended Grandview High School and was unemployed at the time of his arrest, according to court records. He was arrested on October 17, 2022, and held on a $1 million bond. He pleaded not guilty to both charges before appearing before a jury.
Austin will next appear in Johnson County court Sept. 26 at 3:00 p.m. for a sentencing hearing. According to Kansas law, he could face up to a life sentence in prison.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
