A Marion County jury has found 40-year-old Justin Jones guilty of murdering George Nelson Sr., the longtime owner of Pa & Ma's Backyard BBQ, in a 2024 shooting outside the beloved neighborhood spot. Jurors also convicted Jones of a felony firearm sentencing enhancement, and a sentencing hearing is set for mid-April.
Shooting and arrest
On Aug. 21, 2024, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers rushed to reports of gunfire on the near-north side and found Nelson wounded outside his restaurant in the 2600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, according to police and court records. Not long after, officers stopped a vehicle they believed was linked to the shooting, detained three people and ultimately took a suspect into custody, as reported by WRTV.
Family says a work dispute turned deadly
Nelson's daughter told reporters her father had hired the man accused in the case to repair siding at the restaurant, and that what started as back-and-forth texts and calls about payment spiraled into a face-to-face confrontation. She said the worker pulled out a gun and shot her father three times, a detail first shared in early coverage of the killing, as reported by WISH.
Jury convicts Jones
On Friday, a Marion County jury returned guilty verdicts against Justin Jones on the murder charge and the felony firearm sentencing enhancement. Online court records list his sentencing hearing for April 16, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Prosecutors secured the conviction after presenting testimony and evidence tying Jones to the Aug. 21, 2024, shooting, as reported by WTHR.
Prosecutor's statement
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears later issued a statement praising detectives and prosecutors who worked the case, while urging the public to focus on how Nelson lived rather than how he died. "Nelson's legacy will be defined by how he lived, not by his death," Mears said in a written release, as outlined by WTHR.
Restaurant and community
Pa & Ma's Backyard BBQ - which had relocated to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street address less than six months before the shooting - remains open as family members and staff work to carry on Nelson's legacy. Neighbors, loyal customers and local leaders have described him as a mentor and community builder, and many say the upcoming April sentencing will be another moment the city watches closely, as reported by WRTV.
