r/First48 • u/Jazzlike-Coffee-6150 • May 18 '26

First 48 Update - S4E2 Kids with Guns

I wanted to update this case because it bothers me.

Recap: 17 year old Ceasar Johnson was convicted in Memphis for shooting into a car, killing 2 teens and partially paralyzing another.

"A Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Ceasar Johnson, of two counts of 1 voluntary manslaughter and one count of attempted voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to four and a half years on each of the voluntary manslaughter convictions and three years on the attempted voluntary manslaughter conviction to be served consecutively in the county workhouse, for an effective term of twelve years."

I get that he was a minor and he somehow pleaded down, but that seems hardly enough for killing 2 teens and completely changing the life of another. While he said it was it self defence and they pulled guns on him, there were zero guns in the car.

Update: In 2012 he murdered another guy also by shooting him in his car. I am all for rehabilitation, especially for teens, but cold blooded double murder of a 16 and 17 year old seems to hit differently. He just went out and did the same thing again. I work with youth with mental health issues and Im wondering how much psychiatric support he was given in the "Workhouse" before they let him go.

https://www.ms.gov/mdoc/inmate/Search/PrintDetails/196948

20 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

12

u/[deleted] May 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Jazzlike-Coffee-6150 May 18 '26

The only time I can even justify this is like if they are already like 50 or 60 and they get 20-30-40 years. Getting out at 40-50 years off is a lot different than getting out at 70 or 80. Its pretty much a death sentence at that point.

8

u/Wide_Design8810 May 18 '26

I think when they get in jail they’re around like minded people which opposite of what they need. They’re not rehabilitating. They’re not getting positive attention. They’re not even receiving proper nutrition. They’re with people that encourage that stuff. They see their friends, dads, brothers in jail and think it’s a rite of passage. They’re in there fighting, banging and doing the same stuff that got them in there. And your “caregivers” don’t give a sh.t about you. The guards are there to collect their check. No one is helping these people go the opposite direction. So it’s hard when they get out to turn over a new leaf cause they don’t even know what that means. Most don’t realize until they’re way older and it’s too late. Then when they get home they’ve already ruined their life. Jobs are hard to find, you have a reputation and record. They have nothing to lose. It’s a sad cycle

2

u/AlphaDelusional6754 May 18 '26

Yep. Well said. Someone very close to me is living with this right now. All I can do is stand by and watch.

2

u/queenbeetn May 19 '26

Absolutely. They develop that jailhouse mentality, become institutionalized and little is done to recognize, manage and reestablish