A North Carolina man, Jahmez Tavaughn Jackson, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after firing a sawed-off rifle near a school and leading police on a high-speed chase. Jackson, 24, pled guilty to the charge on May 22, 2024.
“This Crip gang member was a one-man crime spree, firing shots near a Wilmington charter school and fleeing police at speeds over 118 mph,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Thanks to the new Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, this felon will serve 15 years in prison. We are using the new law to target violent gangs and shooters across North Carolina, especially those putting children in danger. Our law enforcement efforts are ensuring that kids can focus on their education, not worry about gunfire.”
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Court documents revealed that on February 22, 2023, Jackson fired multiple rounds from a 9mm sawed-off rifle at another person near the intersection of 6th Street and Campbell Street in Wilmington, just over 200 feet from Roger Bacon Douglas Academy, a K-5 charter school where children were present. Although no one was injured, a vehicle parked at the school was struck by a bullet, and officers recovered four shell casings at the scene.
Jackson was located shortly after in Pender County, where he led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 118 mph and discarding the gun out of the car window. He eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a median. A search of the vehicle uncovered marijuana, oxycodone, and drug paraphernalia. Evidence from Jackson’s phone further tied him to the drug trade and showed him posing with firearms, including the sawed-off rifle used in the shooting.
Jackson has a history of felony convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, attempted first-degree burglary, and attempted second-degree kidnapping. He was on state probation and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the federal offense.
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Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams expressed relief at Jackson’s sentencing, stating, “There is no place for gun violence in the City of Wilmington. I am thankful no one was injured by the gunfire near our school. This conviction ensures that this dangerous individual will be off our streets for a long time.”
U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III handed down the sentence. The Wilmington Police Department led the investigation with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pender County Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Van Trigt and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Nokes prosecuted the case.
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