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

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – A Wilmington man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for shooting another person with a sawed-off rifle near a school and then leading officers on a chase.

Jahmez Tavaughn Jackson, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jackson was accused of a shooting that occurred on February 22, 2023.

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

No one was injured in the shooting, but a vehicle parked in front of the school was hit by one of the bullets. Four more shell casings were found at the scene.

Jackson fled by car, but was tracked down by Pender County police a short time later. Jackson led officers on a chase and threw the gun out the car window during the pursuit. He eventually lost control of the car and crashed into a median. Officers found marijuana and oxycodone, as well as drug paraphernalia, in the vehicle. Jackson's phone contained evidence of his involvement in drug trafficking, as well as photos of him posing 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 shooting and police pursuit.

He has been convicted of several crimes in the past, including assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury, illegal possession of a firearm, attempted first-degree burglary, and attempted second-degree kidnapping.

“This Crip gang member was a lone offender who committed a crime spree, firing short bursts of gunfire at a Wilmington charter school and leading police on a chase at over 188 miles per hour,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley.