Teen charged in fatal Lakewood shooting picked fights, fired ‘out of fear,’ records say
A teenager fatally shot a man at a Lakewood park “out of fear” after being confronted for picking fights, court records say.
Jaelin Jackson, 19, was charged Monday with first-degree murder and second-degree murder for Saturday’s homicide at American Lake Park. A guilty plea was entered on his behalf at his arraignment Monday afternoon. Bail was set at $250,000.
The victim has not been publicly identified.
Police said record-breaking heat brought more than 1,000 people to the park Saturday, and several people took notice of Jackson, who allegedly tried to pick fights with strangers and raised suspicions by constantly reaching into a backpack he wore on his chest.
At least one person took a photo of Jackson in case he caused trouble later.
About 4 p.m., officers were called to the boat launch because a bunch of teenagers were fighting. One woman pointed out Jackson and told the officer she thought Jackson had a gun because he kept reaching into his bag. The officer did not see Jackson acting suspiciously, so he did not speak with him, according to charging papers.
Three hours later, the officer heard up to eight gunshots and spotted multiple people running and screaming. He ran to the area and found the victim lying on the ground suffering from at least five gunshot wounds, records say.
Good Samaritans tried to keep pressure on his wounds until paramedics arrived. The victim later died at an area hospital.
Seven shell casings were found at the scene.
One witness said he saw Jackson “walking backwards while firing three more shots at the victim, who was already down,” prosecutors wrote in charging papers.
A friend of Jackson’s told police Jackson threw the gun in blackberry brambles when he ran, but the weapon has not been recovered. Detectives did find Jackson’s cell phone at the scene.
The fatal confrontation started after Jackson picked a fight with a teenage boy, who called the victim (a relative) for help, according to court documents.
“When the victim arrived at the park, he walked up to the defendant and asked, ‘What are you tripping about?’” Jackson’s friend told detectives. Jackson then “pulled a gun from his backpack and fired several times at close range to the victim, striking him.”
Jackson’s friend told police he did not hear the victim make any threats.
After being arrested, Jackson initially denied even being at American Lake Park but later admitted he shot the victim because he “reacted out of fear,” records say.
This story was originally published June 28, 2021 at 11:32 AM.
