Christopher Walton
After almost five years and innumerable court dates, the late Jordan Clark’s family finally got closure. Christopher Walton, 24, took a plea agreement and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter. The lengthy process left several members of Clark’s family unhappy, one of which was his aunt, who was the first to speak after Walton pled guilty.
“I will say that in certain aspects of this case, I feel like the killer has been appeased time and time again,” she said. “My nephew did not get that option. My nephew didn’t get another attempt or chance, and I sometimes wonder if things would’ve been different if black-on-black crime wasn’t so popular. I wonder if the system is now numb to the killings, and I wonder if the bullies started striking other races, if then there would be a change. I don’t wish this pain on our worst enemies.”
Clark’s grandmother was the next speaker. Before saying a word, she spent several seconds staring at the man who killed her grandson by firing over 30 bullets at him. When she finally did speak, she had a message of forgiveness and pity for Walton.
“I really didn’t want to say anything, but I wanted to say something so I could look at you, Christopher,” said the grandmother. “It’s painful, and I don’t know what you feel, but I know what we feel. I don’t know what your family feels, but I know what my family feels. I don’t hate you. I feel sorry for you and all the other young black men around the city who choose to take the lives of other young black men.”
She hoped that the young man would use the time in prison to change himself and leave behind his life of crime. She also expressed sympathy for Walton’s family, who was also present in the courtroom.
“I prayed because, I wanted to hate you, I really did. But I can’t,” said Clark’s grandmother. “Because no matter how I feel, it won’t bring Jordan back or change what happened that night. But hopefully, it’ll change you, it’ll change your direction in life and make you want to be a better person. I’ll pray for you and your family, and I just wish things would’ve turned out differently in a lot of ways. But it didn’t, and this is where we are.”
Clark’s mother had a different tone and harsher words for Walton and his family. She told them that the pain of having their son incarcerated could not compare to the anguish she felt at having her child slain.
“Your mother don’t know how that feels, and you don’t know how that feels because you don’t have children,” said Clark’s mother. “Instead, you get to sit here in front of me, like it doesn’t even matter. It’s been four and a half years, and you’ve decided you’re going to live this life. You and your friends have affected my family tremendously.”
Unlike other members of the family, she would not forgive her son’s killer, saying, “Will I ever forget it? No. Will I ever forgive you? No. But just understand, in this life, there’s only one. And in this life, I hope you make the best of yours.”
After the family had a chance to speak, Criminal Court Judge Poole expressed his condolences for the family, and apologized for how heartless the court system could be. Walton’s case took an inordinately long amount of time compared to many other cases due to the fact that Walton went through four lawyers before he settled upon Bill Speek. The trial was originally set for August 2017, but kept being pushed back as Walton received new counsel.
“Thank you for telling me about Jordan Clark, and it means something to me that you’ve come in and told us this,” said Judge Poole. “I’m sincerely sorry for your loss, and sincerely sorry that this system caused more pain to you.”
After Judge Poole’s closing statement, Walton was led away in chains to serve his sentence. He will receive credit for time already spent in custody, and will be eligible for parole consideration at 45 percent.
Police at the time said the shooting was apparently related to an ongoing feud between the Bloods and the Crips. Two shots were fired into the victim
It was testified earlier that up to 38 shell casings were found near the scene of the murder and that the shooter fired two more shots into his body as he lay dying on the Willow Street sidewalk.
David Bales, General Sessions Court judge at the time of the preliminary hearing, said, "Talk about cowardice. Talk about sickness. He was shot down like a dog."