‘One man crime spree:’ North Carolina felon gets 15 years after firing gun toward school, leading cops on 118 mph chase

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) — A North Carolina Crip gang member who was a felon on probation will now serve 15 years in prison after firing a gun toward an elementary school and leading officers on a 118 mph chase, officials said.

Jahmez Tavaughn Jackson was called a “one-man crime spree” following the incident on Feb. 22, 2023, in Wilmington, according to a Monday news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Jackson was sentenced after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon when he fired a sawed-off rifle at another person about 200 feet from Roger Bacon Douglas Academy, a K-5 charter school, where children were present, officials said.

A vehicle parked at the school was struck by one of the bullets and four more shell casings were found at the intersection of 6th and Campbell streets.

Jackson, who officials said was “in the drug trade,” was soon found by officers in Pender County who tried to stop his car.

“Jackson fled from law enforcement officers at high rates of speed — as fast as 118 mph — and tossed the gun out of the car window,” the news release said.

Eventually, Jackson lost control of the car and crashed into a median.

Marijuana, oxycodone and drug paraphernalia were found in Jackson’s car.

Jackson has been convicted of several felony offenses 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.

He was on state probation and wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the Wilmington incident in February 2023.

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

The Wilmington police chief also spoke about the matter.

“I am glad to see that the man responsible for these dangerous crimes will be heading to prison for a very long time,” Chief Donny Williams said in the release. “As a felon, the man convicted in this case should have never had a firearm in his possession. Through his involvement with narcotics and violent gun crimes, he has clearly shown that he is not ready to be out on the streets.”

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