The parents of a Jackson State student who was shot and killed on campus are suing the university for not taking necessary measures to ensure his safety.
Michael Brown and Michele Hill-Brown have filed a wrongful death lawsuit death against Jackson State following the December 2022 death of their son, 22-year-old Flynn Brown.
Brown was spotted deceased in a car on campus with gunshot wounds to his head. 20-year-old Randall Smith admitted to shooting Brown but claimed that it was in the act of self-defense following an altercation over a box of doughnuts that had been purchased.
Smith reportedly opened gunfire on Brown in their dorm room on the seventh floor of Dixon Hall, with JSU police later stating that bleach was found on the floor where Smith tried to clean up his roommate’s blood. The suspect was also said to be wearing a shirt with blood on it.
Once Brown’s autopsy was complete, the crime lab released that Brown was shot from a little over two feet away in the back of the head. MBI also stated that Smith had placed Brown’s body in a box before moving it to the rear passenger seat of a parked Dodge Challenger on campus. Smith was later charged with murder.
Brown’s parents allege that university staff had been notified about problematic behavior from Smith, including theft of possessions owned by their son and other roommates. The parents claim that JSU employees failed to act on the information they were given about the suspected murderer.
The parents are now seeking $500,000 in compensation from Jackson State for pain and suffering and expenses related to Brown’s passing.
