SMITHFIELD – This afternoon (Wednesday), a superior court judge sentenced Nathan Christopher Jackson to consecutive sentences of 180-224 months and life imprisonment with the possibility of parole following a two-week jury trial in Johnston County Superior Court.
Jackson was convicted of first degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of felony discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle resulting in serious bodily Injury, and three additional counts of felony discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.
Because Jackson was 16 at the time of the offense, the sentence that Jackson received was the maximum allowed under current North Carolina law absent “exceedingly rare” circumstances that were determined not to be present in this case following a separate sentencing hearing.
The charges arose from a shooting that occurred on February 17, 2022, on Josephine Road in Johnston County. Jackson and a charged co-defendant, both of whom were suspected Nine Trey Bloods criminal gang members, approached a parked vehicle on foot and fired 20 shots into the back of that vehicle, killing 21 year-old Harley Alexander “Alex” Shirley. Alex’s father, Ronnie Shirley Jr. was a star on the TV show Lizard Lick Towing.
Alex Shirley, who was sitting in the back seat on the driver’s side of that vehicle, was the intended target of the shooting. He died from multiple gunshot wounds to the face and torso. Authorities discovered Shirley’s body in the parking lot of Sheetz on NC 42 West at Cornwallis Road where the vehicle had been driven following the shooting.
Sophie Catherine Hagy, who was sitting next to Shirley but was not an intended target of the shooting, was shot twice in the back and permanently paralyzed from the waist down.
Three other occupants in the car were not struck by gunfire, but one sustained non life-threatening injuries.
The Johnston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting.
Jackson, who is now 18, was sentenced in Johnston County Superior Court by the Honorable Thomas H. Lock.
The State of North Carolina was represented by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jason Waller and Assistant District Attorney Eric Hinderliter.
“We are grateful that justice was served with guilty verdicts on all charges,” Waller said. “And, while we are pleased with the verdicts, our hearts go out to the family of Alex Shirley, as well as to Sophie Hagy and her family. Sophie very courageously testified both at trial and during the sentencing phase of the proceedings, playing a key role in securing a just outcome.”
“The Johnston County District Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in its commitment to prosecuting violent crime to the fullest extent of the law. There is simply no place for such senseless acts of violence in our community,” Mr. Waller stated.
“The victims and surviving family members have shown incredible courage and strength throughout the investigation and court proceedings, and we thank them for their patience as the justice system went to work. We also want to thank the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent work in this case, and in particular retired Lieutenant Blane Hicks, who was the lead investigator in this case. Their work was truly a model of professionalism,” said Hinderliter.
In two years this person was brought to some form of justice. In Sampson County we have a person that killed a “friend” by beating him to death and burning his body in his family farm’s animal incinerator. That has been almost 4 years ago. He remains free and Sampson County LE and the Sheriff here should take lessons from Steve Bizzell and Johnston County. Shame
In this case you actually had a BODY on scene as well as plenty of evidence against the now-convicted murderer. The case you’re referring to from Sampson has a LOT of nuances, including no da*n dead body at all, not even DNA Ellen. Google search how hot incinerators get and you might understand a little more. IF, and it’s a big if, what you say is true, they still don’t have the evidence to go to trial.
Motive?
A third friend says there was a dispute over drugs. He refuses to give further information.
The third friend has said there was a fight over drugs. This friend refuses to give any more information although he is the roundabout source of the information that led to them searching the incinerator. Dead End according to law enforcement.
Justice was not served as far as I am concerned. I don’t care if they were 16, they were old enough to kill someone. They should get LIFE!
Stull think “the wall” is going to make things better? Less than 15% of all crimes are committed by illegals. They’ve fooled all the sheep into believing illegal immigrants crossing the southern border are the problem. When in fact, we need to better police (and punish) the *citizens* who commit crimes. #SheepBaaaa
Hmmmmm…… so you think that 15% is okay? How do you know this? When someone is illegal, they are extremely hard to find, you know with fictitious names and such. Even 1% of crime being committed by someone here illegally is too much. The first crime was coming here illegally so that percentage is pretty much 100%.
@1%: How do I know this? DOJ, Bureau of Prisons, and FBI stats are all public. Go see for yourself. We are currently spending 62% of enforcement-related budget on only 15% of the activity. Does that really make sense to you? I expect the government to do better with OUR money. But maybe the sheep like wasting money?
And your assertion that “When someone is illegal, they are extremely hard to find, you know with fictitious names and such” is simply false. Go check the INS reports:
– Fact: 71% of “illegals” have ITIN numbers, pay taxes, and are known by the IRS
– Fact: 61% of “illegals” in NC (I couldn’t find data for entire country) have drivers license or ID cards and are known by NCDMV
The government knows where most of them are, but depriortises them as long as they’re paying taxes. 😞
But keep believing that making Mexico build a wall will make a difference.
The $685M spent building the wall (over past 10 years) could have been MUCH better spent on things to reduce the 85% of crime committed by citizens. #SheepBaaa
Incorrect. When an illegal enters the country illegally, they’re committing a crime. So 100% of illegals are committing a crime, but to further that we don’t need unnecessary crime on top of what is already being committed in the US. In trying to sound smart you made yourself look like a ******. Go get educated.
@Stewart: You’re 100%. INS estimates that nearly 42% of the “illegals” entered the counry LEGALLY. They then overstayed their visa, committed a felony, or were deemed a security threat (these are the rop 3 reasons).
The Border Patrol has stated multiple times that only slightly more than half (estimates range from 50-65%) of the “illegals” are from illegal border crossings.
But keep building that wall, while ignoring the vast majority sources of crimes — legal US citizens. That what they want you to do! #factsNotFiction #SheepSayBaaa
Life without parole