FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Erin Maloney, Communications Director
Office of the State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit (813) 557-3366 | Erin.Maloney@sao13th.com
TAMPA, Fla. (February 6, 2024) — The man responsible for injuring a 4-year-old in a road rage incident will remain behind bars until trial. The State Attorney’s Office successfully argued that 34-year-old James Jackson is a danger to the community, and the judge denied him bond in a Hillsborough County courtroom today.
Jackson was driving a white Kia Optima on January 30th when he became angry that a white Chevrolet sedan merged into his lane. The woman driving the Chevrolet sedan testified on the stand today that she looked into Jackson’s eyes while he shot at the car repeatedly with her two children screaming in the backseat. She pulled over and realized her 4-year-old was shot.
Jackson is charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, and felon in possession of a firearm. Additional charges include fleeing to elude police and possession of cannabis.
“It is clear the defendant has no regard for human life if he is willing to shoot a firearm at a car with young children inside. I cannot imagine the horror of what this young victim and her family have experienced due to the reckless actions of this cold-blooded criminal. My office will work diligently to ensure this defendant is held accountable for his actions,” said State Attorney Suzy Lopez.
Jackson was previously found guilty of attempted murder in 2006, but the case was overturned on appeal after a judge found his confession should not have been admitted into evidence. Jackson still served 10 years in prison for his crimes. He was then released in 2016, only to reoffend less than two years later. He was sentenced to two more years in Florida State Prison.