Posted by A second person has been indicted in the 2025 murder of Project Pat‘s son, Patrick Houston Jr., who was tragically shot and killed in Memphis at the age of 21. The legal proceedings continue to unfold as authorities move forward with the case.
According to a report from ABC 24 Memphis on Thursday (Sept. 10), 18-year-old Jermiesia Franklin has been hit with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and tampering with or fabricating evidence in connection to the death of Houston Jr. The latter charge stems from allegations that she took the victim’s cell phone following the shooting.
Franklin, who was 16 at the time of the incident, is currently being held on a $5 million bond at the Shelby County Jail in Memphis. In addition to the murder charges, she faces separate counts of attempted second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony related to an unrelated incident from September 2024.
Franklin is the second individual arrested in the case. Previously, 19-year-old Talia Jones was apprehended in Minnesota in July 2025 for her alleged involvement. Jones is currently facing charges of aggravated robbery and tampering with or fabricating evidence. Law enforcement officials have stated that their investigation indicates Franklin was the primary shooter, while Jones allegedly assisted in the commission of the crime.
Both defendants are scheduled to appear in court for a report date on Sept. 16, with a joint trial currently set to begin on September 21. Patrick Houston Jr. was discovered deceased by police officers responding to a shooting on Jan. 10, 2025. While Project Pat has not issued a public statement regarding the recent developments in the case, he has remained dedicated to his faith-based outreach, continuing his work with the Go Foundation to support prisons and local churches.