Title: Guilty Plea and Prison Sentence for Man Accused of Fatal Shooting at Virginia High School Graduation
A man, Amari Pollard, who was accused of opening fire outside a high school graduation ceremony in Richmond, Virginia, resulting in the death of Shawn Jackson last year, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and firearm-related charges on Thursday. The prosecutor, Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette Wallace McEachin, confirmed the development to media outlets including CNN.
The shooting occurred outside Richmond’s Altria Theater following Huguenot High School’s graduation ceremony in June 2023, where a large crowd of graduates and their families had gathered. Jackson, then 18, and his stepfather Renzo Smith, 36, were both victims of the shooting, as per the police reports from last year.
An ongoing dispute between Pollard and Jackson is believed to have been the motive for the attack. According to Police Chief Rick Edwards, who spoke to media outlets in June 2023, Pollard allegedly interacted with Jackson before retrieving a gun and opening fire. The shooting resulted in a chaotic scene, with multiple people injured and some even falling during the panic, as Edwards further described.
The incident left five individuals injured aside from Jackson and Smith. Among them was Jackson’s 9-year-old sister, who sustained minor injuries after being hit by a car during the ensuing confusion.
Jackson was remembered as a loving and family-oriented individual. Family members shared that he had a contagious smile and aspired to be a music producer.
Pollard, then 19 at the time of the shooting, was arrested shortly after the incident. The investigation is ongoing, and no one has been charged in connection to Smith’s murder as of yet, McEachin informed CNN.
Following the guilty plea, Pollard was sentenced to a total prison term of 43 years. The court handed him a sentence of 40 years for the murder charge and an additional three years for using a firearm during the commission of a felony. However, 18 years were suspended from the murder sentence, leaving him with an active imprisonment term of 25 years.
McEachin shared her relief and happiness for the Jackson family upon securing this outcome, after working closely with them during their grieving process over the past eight months. The mother of the deceased, Tameeka Jackson-Smith, agreed to this resolution.
This tragic incident marked a somber end to what was intended to be a joyous occasion for the graduating class and their families, leaving behind memories of loss and resilience.
