Written by: JR Robinson

Shelby County, TN – Jaja Mani has been found guilty of two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempted First Degree Murder for his involvement in the deaths of Emmanuel and Nancy MacDonal, an East Memphis couple, and the critical injury of their son, Emmanuel Jr. The verdict was delivered on Friday, securing justice for the victims.

Background of the Case
The charges against Mani stem from a tragic incident in November 2020. According to police, the MacDonal family became targets after Mani attempted to intimidate them into preventing their son from testifying in a separate case. In June 2020, Emmanuel Jr. had been shot in the head by Kevin Gomez, who was later charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder.

On November 12, 2020, Emmanuel Sr. and Nancy MacDonal were discovered dead next to their Ford Explorer on Patterson Street. Their son was critically wounded in the back seat of the vehicle but survived. Investigators revealed that Mani was not the shooter but played a significant role in orchestrating the events leading to their deaths. Evidence presented during the trial included documents and video footage that demonstrated Mani’s criminal responsibility.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The jury convicted Mani, resulting in an automatic life sentence for the murders. Assistant District Attorneys Steve Raglan and Gavin Smith expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that justice had been served for Emmanuel Jr. and his late parents.

Additional sentencing for other charges is scheduled for May 16th.

Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to investigate the case to uncover any further connections or individuals involved.