MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) – More than a year after a Mt. Juliet teenager was shot and killed during his birthday celebration, justice has been served.
On Friday, May 17, a Wilson County jury found 22-year-old Caleb Mershon guilty of multiple charges in connection with the death of Austin Gordon, according to District Attorney General Jason Lawson of the 15th Judicial District.
"You may hear the wind chimes now. I'm sure that's Austin just laughing," Tonya Wilkerson, Austin’s mother, said.
Listening to the wind chimes and listening to his music in the car are just a few ways Wilkerson and her family communicate with Austin.
"That's his spirit putting his hand on my shoulder and saying, ‘Dad, it's alright. I’m fine, and just carry on. You do the best you can with your life,'" Jeremy Gordon, Austin’s father, explained.
Officials said the proof presented at trial established that Mershon and Austin, who were friends, were celebrating Gordon's 19th birthday in September 2022 when Mershon unintentionally shot Gordon, resulting in his death.
"Our son had no alcohol in his system, no drugs, so let me put that out there. [He was] sitting down on a mattress, eating some gummy worms, and drinking a Coke. Caleb, being as reckless as he is, picked up a gun, pointed it to the other individuals that was there, turned around, pointed it to our son, and shot him point blank in his head," Wilkerson described.
Wilkerson and her family had to relive that narrative during the trial last week.
“He said, 'I don’t want to die.' He was saying that with his last breath,” Jeremy recalled.
"Sitting through that trial, it was just stomach churning. [Austin] was just the sweetest soul, always," Alisa Gordon, Austin’s sister, said.
Officials said Mershon was convicted of reckless homicide, reckless aggravated assault resulting in death, three counts of reckless endangerment, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, and underage consumption of alcohol on Friday. Austin's family has been waiting on that justice to be served for more than 20 months.
"The verdict was in our favor, which was great, but I still don’t have my son, and I would trade anything I have to have him back," Jeremy said. "I know all of us would. I would give everything I own for the rest of my life just to hug him one more time."
Mershon's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10, which is exactly two years after Austin was killed.
Austin's family told News 2 that they hope for a maximum sentence of 16 years. They added that they are grateful for the district attorney's office and the friends who not only tried to save Austin back in September 2022, but also spoke as witnesses during the trial.