Wilmington gang member who fired gun near school sentenced to 15 years in prison

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – A Wilmington man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for firing a sawed-off rifle at another person near a school, then leading officers on a high-speed chase.

24-year-old Jahmez Tavaughn Jackson pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Jackson was accused in a shooting that happened on February 22nd of 2023.

According to court documents, Jackson fired a 9mm sawed-off rifle multiple times at another person at the intersection of 6th and Campbell Street in Wilmington, just over 200 feet away from the Roger Bacon Douglas Academy, where children were present.

No one was injured during the shooting, but a vehicle parked at the school was struck by one of the bullets. Four additional shell casings were found on scene.

Jackson took off in a car, but police located him a short time later in Pender County. Jackson led law enforcement officers on a high speed chase, tossing the gun out of the car window during the pursuit. He eventually lost control of the car and crashed into a median. Officers found marijuana and oxycodone along with drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Jackson’s phone contained evidence of his involvement in the drug trade along with photos in which he posed with firearms, including the sawed-off rifle used in the shooting.

Jackson was on probation and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the shots fired incident and police pursuit.

He has been convicted of several crimes in the past, including Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Attempted First Degree Burglary and Attempted Second Degree Kidnapping.

“This Crip gang member was a one-man crime spree, firing shorts towards a Wilmington charter school and leading police on a high-speed chase topping 118 mile per hour,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.