HORN LAKE, Mississippi — A home barber shop became the scene of a violent shooting and robbery last summer — and now the man responsible is heading to prison for four decades.
Jaquillna Twilley, 24, was sentenced to 40 years after pleading guilty to attempted murder and armed robbery connected to the June 2025 attack on West Avalon Drive in Horn Lake.
The sentence is one of the heaviest handed down in DeSoto County in recent memory for a single incident.
What Happened Inside That Barber Shop
Horn Lake Police responded to a shooting call on West Avalon Drive in June 2025.
When officers arrived, they found an 18-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the chest.
The injury was severe. The teenager was airlifted to Regional One Hospital in Memphis, where he arrived in critical condition.
Witnesses at the scene gave officers a description of the shooter and told police he had already fled on foot.
Police Closed In Fast
Officers wasted no time.
Horn Lake Police quickly set up a perimeter near Nail Road and Kentwood Drive — a short distance from the shooting location.
Twilley was found inside that perimeter.
The swift response by officers likely prevented the suspect from escaping into the broader community.
The Sentence Handed Down
Twilley pleaded guilty to both charges.
He received 30 years for attempted murder and an additional 10 years for armed robbery. The two sentences run consecutively — meaning he must complete one before the other begins.
Both sentences will be served at the same time as a separate sentence Twilley was already serving.
The DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing Friday.
A Community Left Shaken
A barber shop is supposed to be one of the safest, most welcoming corners of any neighborhood.
For the Horn Lake community, this incident was a reminder of how quickly violence can strike — and how much it costs. An 18-year-old fought for his life. A family waited outside a Memphis trauma center. And a neighborhood lost its sense of safety, at least for a time.
With a 40-year sentence now on record, prosecutors sent a clear message: violent crime in DeSoto County carries serious consequences.
Do you think a 40-year sentence is the right punishment for this crime? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
