Could Johnquavious Hood really go free?

• Joeff Davis/CL File
• A tribute to John Henderson on the sign outside the Standard after his 2009 murder

In mid-March 2011, Jonathan Redding was sentenced to life-plus-70 years in prison for his involvement in the 2009 shooting death of bartender John Henderson at Standard Food & Spirits in Grant Park. A jury convicted Redding of felony murder, meaning that even if he didn't fire the shots that killed Henderson, he was present and in the process of committing a felony - armed robbery - when Henderson was killed. In fact, during Redding's trial, both the prosecution and the defense hinted at the possibility that it wasn't Redding who pulled the trigger, rather another member of the gang 30 Deep, Johnquavious Hood, known as "Nuk" (pronouced "Nuke") or Lil' Nuk on the street.

But in the year that's elapsed since Redding's trial and conviction, murder charges have not been filed against Hood. And, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections, he could be released from prison (where he was serving time for other crimes) as early as next week.

Hood testified during Redding's trial, if it can even be considered testifying. Here's a look at Hood's appearance in court from an article we printed last year ...
During Redding's trial, the prosecution called on 30 Deep member Johnquavious Hood - who's currently incarcerated out of county - to testify. Shackled at the wrists and ankles and wearing navy blue prison scrubs, Hood was largely uncooperative, offering little more than yes or no answers to the questions asked of him. Hood balked at the repeated reference to 30 Deep as a "gang," insisting instead that it's a "family." "What's the family about," prosecutor Lance Cross asked him. "We get money ... however we plan to get it," Hood replied. Both the prosecution and the defense expressed the belief that it was Hood, not Redding, who fired the fatal shots the night of the Standard murder. Even if Redding knows it was Hood's doing, he won't say. Redding refused to testify on his own behalf. "I don't want to testify," he muttered, shaking his head, when Judge Adams explained that option.

During Redding's trial, CL spoke with District Attorney Paul Howard about the possibility that Hood would be indicted in the near future. Everyone in the courtroom - prosecutors, even public defenders - seemed convinced he was present the night that Henderson was killed, and, in fact, was an active participant in the murder. Howard wouldn't say when Hood would be indicted, just that his office was building a case and wanted to "be careful" and make sure their case against him was strong. "In a case like this, you want to make sure," Howard said. "It's safe to say we're still investigating Hood's role. As with some of the other cases in our community, we're not going to forget about it."

So, how is it that a year later Hood still hasn't been indicted? I contacted Howard's office yesterday afternoon requesting that he speak with me about it, but my request hasn't been answered (and there's a good chance Howard won't discuss the case). A DA spokesperson has simply said that their investigation is continuing.

In the meantime, an online petition has been circulating that urges the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to keep Hood incarcerated. Nine hundred forty five people have signed so far.