A 28-year-old security guard was fatally shot outside a bar in Acworth, Georgia, after intervening in an assault. Daniel Di Vonne Parsons, 25, faces charges of felony murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery in the death of Jordan Alexander Jones. Authorities say the incident occurred shortly after the bar closed for the night.
Jordan Alexander Jones, a 28-year-old security guard at Saddlebar in Acworth, Georgia, was killed in the early morning hours while attempting to stop an assault on a woman. The bar, located at 5160 Cowan Road about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta, had closed for the night when the altercation began around 2:40 a.m.
According to police, Jones intervened in a fight between Daniel Di Vonne Parsons and a woman. As Jones tried to de-escalate the situation, Parsons allegedly grabbed a gun and shot him in the back. Officers arrived to find Jones suffering from a gunshot wound and transported him to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Parsons was arrested nearby while walking on foot.
Jones's uncle, Edward Jones, described his nephew's actions in an interview with local ABC affiliate WSB. "Jordan being who Jordan is, you know, he sees something going on wrong, you know, he's not gonna just let it happen, watch others on while they tape it," Edward Jones said. "So he stepped in, and just said, you know, he was not violent with the guy, you know? He simply grabbed him, an old bear hug, and put him to the side."
In a statement on social media, Saddlebar praised Jones's bravery: the victim "courageously intervened and stepped in to stop the assault, protecting the woman and de-escalating the situation." The bar added, "Our entire Saddlebar team is grieving the loss of a brave individual who put himself in harm's way to protect someone else. His courage and selflessness will not be forgotten."
Jones, a graduate of Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville, had returned to the school as a substitute teacher and football coach. The school remembered him in an Instagram post: "Jordan was a proud Bear who made a lasting impact on our program as both a student-athlete and later as a coach... His legacy will live on in the lives he impacted."
A friend and former teammate, Dijon Joseph, told local Fox affiliate WAGA, "He was somebody who always brought everybody in. He's that big brother figure that always has his arm around you."
Parsons is being held without bond in Cobb County Jail, with no next court date listed.