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Two years after his murder, the family of Alphonso Oliver Jr. finally gets justice

It's been more than two years since 26-year-old Alphonso Oliver Jr. was shot and killed on Brewer Street in Savannah, Georgia. Now, after a long and painful wait, his family is finally getting justice. In May 2022, Margaret Taylor was deployed overseas when she received a devastating call – her son, Alphonso Oliver Jr., had been shot 13 times in the back. “This tragedy has truly caused me and my children a lot of grief,” Taylor said, recalling the moment that changed their lives forever. Oliver Jr. succumbed to his injuries that same day. Taylor recalls her heartbreaking reaction when she first heard the news. “I just remember screaming and yelling 'no.' No mother should have to endure this news,” Taylor said. For Taylor, the pain of losing her eldest son was unbearable. “It's the worst feeling you can have, not only losing a child, but having to bury your firstborn child,” she said. Taylor described her son as a kind and gentle soul and said Alphonso would never hurt anyone. “His whole demeanor, his whole attitude was very calm,” Taylor said. Now, more than two years later, the family has finally received some measure of justice. On Thursday, a Chatham County judge found Jamal Hicks guilty of Oliver Jr.'s murder. Hicks was found guilty on several counts, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder and aggravated assault. Hicks was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, just one day before Oliver Jr.'s 29th birthday. “The pain will always be there,” Taylor said after the verdict. “This verdict can't bring my child back. But it has given me peace. It has given me inner peace.” Oliver Jr. leaves behind a young son who Taylor said carries his father's spirit within him. “He's got his spirit. He's got his heart. He's got his spirit. He's got everything. It's like it's Alfonzo all over again,” Taylor said. Taylor has a clear message for the world: “Gun violence must stop. It's not the answer.” Taylor is currently finishing her son's headstone, a symbol of the justice she fought for and the memory she will never let go of.

SAVANNAH, Georgia —

It's been more than two years since 26-year-old Alphonso Oliver Jr. was shot and killed on Brewer Street in Savannah, Georgia. Now, after a long and painful wait, his family is finally getting justice.

In May 2022, Margaret Taylor was serving overseas when she received a devastating call – her son, Alphonso Oliver Jr., had been shot 13 times in the back.

“This tragedy has really caused me and my children a lot of grief,” Taylor said, recalling the moment that changed her life forever.

Oliver Jr. succumbed to his injuries that same day. Taylor remembers her heartbreaking reaction when she first heard the news.

“I remember screaming 'no.' No mother should have to endure this news,” Taylor said.

For Taylor, the pain of losing her eldest son was unbearable.

“It's the worst feeling you can have. Not only when you lose a child, but also when you have to bury your firstborn child,” she said.

Taylor described her son as a kind and gentle soul and said Alphonso would never hurt anyone.

“His whole demeanor, his whole posture, was very calm,” Taylor said.

Now, more than two years later, the family has finally received justice.

On Thursday, a Chatham County judge found Jamal Hicks guilty of the murder of Oliver Jr.

Hicks was found guilty on numerous charges, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder and aggravated assault.

Hicks was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, just one day before Oliver Jr.'s 29th birthday.

“The pain will always be there,” Taylor said after the verdict. “This verdict cannot bring my child back. But it has given me peace. It has given me inner peace.”

Oliver Jr. leaves behind a young son who, according to Taylor, carries his father's spirit within him.

“He has his spirit. He has his heart. He has his spirit. He has everything. It's like he's Alfonzo again,” Taylor said.

Taylor has a clear message to the world: “Gun violence must stop. It is not the answer.”

Taylor is currently completing her son's headstone, a symbol of the justice she fought for and the memory she will never let go of.

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