Michigan man receives life sentence in murder of Jacob Jones

A man convicted of murder in the robbery and death of a Western Michigan University student has been sentenced to life in prison.

Jordan Waire, of Michigan, was sentenced to life in prison Monday, after having been found guilty of armed robbery and murder in the December 2016 death of 19-year-old Jacob Jones, a Western Michigan University student.

A Kalamazoo, Michigan, jury found Waire guilty of the charges on May 22.  

Jordan Waire (in 2017) was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of murdering and robbing 19-year-old Michigan college student Jacob Jones

Jordan Waire (in 2017) was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of murdering and robbing 19-year-old Michigan college student Jacob Jones

A Kalamazoo County Circuit Court judge sentenced Waire to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder. Waire was also given a 30 to 50 year prison sentence for armed robbery, six to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and six years total for three counts of felony firearm possession.

Waire's co-defendant and Muskegon High School basketball teammate, Joeviair Kennedy, was previously found not guilty of murder in June. Kennedy was, however, found guilty of armed robbery and a felony firearm count. 

When questioned, Kennedy said that Waire had been the one who shot Jones, MLive.com reported.  

Jones was killed in an off-campus apartment in December 2016. Witnesses said Waire and Kennedy burst into Jones' apartment demanding money and marijuana. 

Waire's (pictured) co-defendant was his former high school basketball teammate Joeviair Kennedy Joeviair Kennedy was found not guilty of Jones' murder, but guilty of armed robbery and a felony firearm charge

Waire's (left) co-defendant and former high school basketball teammate Joeviair Kennedy (right) was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of armed robbery and a felony firearm charge

Authorities said Jacob Jones, 19, was shot in the face and died almost instantaneously Waire and Kennedy allegedly went to Jones' (pictured) home in December 2016 to rob him

Authorities said Jacob Jones, 19 (pictured), was shot in the face and died almost instantaneously. Waire and Kennedy allegedly went to his home in December 2016 to rob him

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Jones was shot once in the face and died almost instantaneously. 

During a preliminary examination, Kennedy said under oath that after Waire asked him if he knew anyone they could rob, Kennedy called Jones claiming that he wanted to buy three grams of marijuana, before upping it to an ounce. 

Kennedy, who was on Western Michigan's basketball time at the time of his arrest, said that he had only planned to drive Waire to Jones' home, while Waire carried out the robbery, but ultimately accompanied Waire inside after realizing that Jones was not alone in his apartment.

Waire's attorney, Michael Oakes, insisted that Waire was the victim of courtroom lies. 

During Waire's sentencing, Judge Bridenstine called Jones' death 'senseless, irrational and vicious.' The judge also remarked on the loss experienced by Jones's family and friends, who had submitted extensive victim impact statements prior to the sentencing.  

'It is clear that Mr. Waire's behavior, his decision to shoot and kill Jacob Jones, caused the death of a fine young man, a college student with remarkable qualities,' Bridenstine said.

Speaking in court, Jones' mother, Tara Workman, said that her family has been greatly impacted by Jones' death and that his father has experienced health problems in the wake of Jones' death, leaving him unable to return to work.   

'The loss of Jake is so utterly devastating that sometimes I find it hard to breathe,' Workman said, calling Jones the 'glue' that held his family and friends together.

Waire declined to speak to the judge before his sentence.    

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKCeYSTbWlqZ3yes6Z50p6lrZ2emLJuucCnZKykka62r7OMhqCcoJmcrq95wqijpZ2Xmnq0wNSdnKesXp3Brrg%3D