District Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison For Shooting at Special Police Officer

            WASHINGTON – Jerrell Jackson, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison on charges stemming from an incident in which he threatened and subsequently shot at a Special Police Officer, Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr., announced.

            Jackson was found guilty in February 2015, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of eight counts, including assault on a police officer while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, threats, and various firearms offenses. He was sentenced by the Honorable Todd E. Edelman. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on July 27, 2014, at about 5:10 p.m., Jackson was involved in a verbal dispute with another man in the courtyard area of the Benning Courts Apartment Complex in the 1700 block of Benning Road NE. The victim, who was working as a Special Police Officer at the apartment complex, called for back-up assistance to clear the area and avoid an impending physical altercation.  Jackson then accused the victim of being scared.  When the victim denied being scared, Jackson threatened him by saying words to the effect of, “Oh, you’re not scared?  Be here when I get back.”

            Jackson left the apartment courtyard on foot.  Approximately 15 minutes later, he returned on a bicycle and fired one shot at the victim, who was not injured.  Jackson then fled the scene on the bicycle and was arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant on Aug. 4, 2014.

            In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen commended the work of those who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department.  He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Donville Drummond, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, Information Technology Specialist Anisha Bhatia, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kerkhoff and Michael Truscott. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Macey, of the Felony Major Crimes Trial Section, who prosecuted the matter.