Update: 5:34 p.m. 10/28/2015
The suspect is set to be released soon. The King County Prosecutor's Office has decided not to file formal charges at this time and will continue to investigate the suspect and his connection to this homicide pending his release. This afternoon was the deadline for the Prosecutor's Office to file charges before the suspect is released.
Original story:
One man is dead and another man was admitted to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition following a shooting in West Seattle on Sat., Oct. 24, over $200. The suspect is currently being held in King County Jail with a bail amount set to one million dollars. As of this writing the suspect has not yet been formally charged and thus will remain unnamed in this piece.
On Oct. 24, at approximately 1:38 p.m. police received numerous calls reporting multiple gunshots and two men lying wounded in the street on the 6900 block of 23 Ave. S.W. When officers and medics arrived they found 24-year-old Jerome Jackson with a gunshot wound to the throat and an unnamed 34-year-old black male with a gunshot wound to the face. The 34-year-old was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. Jackson was declared dead at the scene.
Jackson’s brother, Terence, was on the scene and had not only witnessed the shooting but was very nearly shot himself. As Terence explained to the officers and detectives at the scene he had received a call from his brother earlier that day that a former friend of his was threatening to “jump him” at the scene of the shooting. He asked Terence to come to the scene and back him up. Terence got into his car with three of his friends, one being the injured 34-year-old.
As Terence explained this former friend, the suspect, used to be friends with the brothers but has been engaged in a spiteful dispute with them over $200 for the last five years. When Terence arrived at the scene he spotted his brother as well as the suspect’s car, an older model white Crown Victoria, parked nearby. Soon the suspect appeared with four other friends and approached the Jacksons.
Terence believed that the two groups were going to fight but was shocked when the suspect pulled out a Glock .23 and pointed it directly at him. Terence turned around and ran away as the sound of gunshots rang out behind him. By the time he ran back to the scene he saw Jerome lying on the ground and police working to clear the scene.
After gathering the suspect’s name from Terence and details about his car police knew where to find the suspect since they were familiar with him from past incidents. SWAT units were dispatched to the suspect’s home and a warrant was gathered to search his house and car.
The suspect immediately made statements to investigating officers that he had been involved in the shooting and even told officers where they could find his gun. While searching for the gun they were unable to locate it where the suspect had told them it would be. They did recover several other guns including one that may be the murder weapon.
The suspect eventually asked for an attorney. According to the King County Prosecutor’s Office today is the deadline for filing charges. This story will be updated if charges are filed later today.
