The indoor football community is in mourning this week after former All-IFL linebacker Jordan Jones was fatally shot outside a bar in Acworth, Georgia, early Saturday morning. He was 28 years old.
Jones was working as a security guard at Saddle Bar when a brawl broke out around 2:42 a.m. on March 7. Witnesses say he intervened after witnessing a man assaulting a woman, successfully de-escalating the situation. But as Jones walked away, the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Daniel Di Vonne Parsons, allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him.
Officers arrived to find Jones suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to Kennestone Hospital in Marietta but died from his injuries.
Parsons was arrested at the scene and now faces felony murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery charges. He is being held without bail at the Cobb County Jail as the investigation continues.
Acworth Police Department stated, “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time”.
A Lawrenceville, Georgia native, Jones first made his mark at Mountain View High School, where he later returned as a substitute teacher and coach.
He played college ball at the University of West Alabama from 2016 to 2019, racking up 211 total tackles, 17 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one interception over his four-year career. His best season came in 2017 with six sacks, followed by 14.5 tackles for loss in 2019.
Jones moved to the Indoor Football League (IFL), playing linebacker for the Tulsa Oilers and San Antonio Gunslingers. He was slated to join the Michigan Arsenal in Arena Football One this season, a team he hadn’t yet reported to for training camp but had already made an impression on.
Friends and teammates remember Jones as a protector both on and off the field.
“He was a hero. He was a gentle giant. He lit up the room when he walked in,” said K’Maron Patterson, a close friend.
Jalen Virgil, another longtime friend, described the grief as surreal: “It kind of feels like a nightmare that I’m just kind of waiting to wake up from”.
Dijon Joseph, a former teammate, added, “He was somebody who always brought everybody in. He’s that big brother figure that always has his arm around you”.
The Indoor Football League released a statement mourning “the tragic passing of former All-IFL linebacker Jordan Jones. A talented player and respected competitor, Jordan left a lasting mark on the league and those who had the privilege of knowing him”.
Michigan Arsenal owner George Bradford called Jones “a remarkable young man whose talent, drive, and character stood out from the moment we connected with him”. Head Coach Shawn Liotta remembered him as “an outstanding young man and an exceptional football talent”.
Jones’s death has sent shockwaves through the football community, from his high school roots to the professional leagues where he was still building his legacy. He was 28.
