Charges upgraded to murder after victim dies

Published 9:41 pm Monday, July 25, 2016

Attempted murder charges for the suspect in last week’s shooting will be upgraded to capital murder after the victim died over the weekend.

JOE JACKSON

JOE JACKSON

The 19-year-old man from Tyler was shot in the back of the head Monday, July 18 and died Saturday, according to Selma Police Department Sgt. Ray Blanks.

A 20-year-old shooting suspect Joe Jackson, of Selma, was originally charged with attempted murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle and shooting into an unoccupied vehicle. Since the death of the victim, the attempted murder charge has been upgraded to capital murder, according to District Attorney Michael Jackson.

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Blanks said investigators are still searching for the suspect and have brought in the help of the U.S. Marshals to find and apprehend Joe Jackson.

Jasper Cole, 24, of Selma, is also wanted in connection to the shooting for allegedly transporting Jackson away from the crime scene. Cole has been charged with hindering prosecution.

According to authorities, the victim was riding in the backseat of a vehicle traveling down King Street when the shooting occurred.

“They were passing through the 900 block of King Street when they heard the back window of the vehicle shatter,” said Lt. Tory Neely in a previous report.

JASPER COLE

JASPER COLE

The victim was shot at least once in the back of the head. The driver of the vehicle then drove the victim to Vaughan Regional Medical Center emergency room, where he was stabilized before being airlifted to University of Alabama at Birmingham trauma center.

The second vehicle shot was unoccupied and was parked near the site of the shooting.

Joe is considered armed and dangerous, investigators said, and to not approach the suspect if found but to contact local law enforcement.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspects whereabouts is encouraged to contact Neely, Blanks or Det. Ronald Jones by calling the detective division at (334) 874-2125 or by calling the secret witness line at (334) 874-2190.

This case is Selma’s ninth homicide for 2016.