Murder trial begins Monday for suspect in 3 summer slayings

Published 12:00 am Sunday, March 22, 2009

A Vicksburg man charged in a shooting spree last summer that left three people dead — one of them an unborn child — is scheduled to face trial Monday in Warren County Circuit Court.

Eric DeShawn Jackson, 26, 2609 Grant St., is accused of the June 26 shooting of Denise Jackson, 25, her child and Preston L. Qualls, 25.

Denise Jackson was shot at her home, 2634 Ken Karyl Ave., after Eric Jackson, who was not related to her, opened fire in what police believe was an argument over a video game.

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Qualls’ body was found the following day by construction workers, two doors from the home where Denise Jackson and her child were killed. Police believe Qualls was struck by one of Jackson’s stray bullets. Delay in finding his body was blamed on construction debris at the site and the number of people who gathered in the neighborhood following the shootings.

Qualls lived nearby at 1523 Ethel St.

Eric Jackson faces three counts of murder. Jury selection for the trial will begin at 9 a.m. in Warren County Circuit Court, said District Attorney Ricky Smith. Judge Isadore Patrick will preside.

Denise Jackson was the mother of three other children. She was killed as she hid behind her couch and her grandfather looked on, both of them trying to avoid what police characterized as a barrage of stray bullets.

Eric Jackson, who surrendered to police 12 hours after the shooting, was indicted on the three homicide charges by the Warren County grand jury in October. He remained in the Warren County Jail at year’s end.

Curtis Anderson, 28, 210 Kendra Drive, was arrested July 2 and charged with being an accessory after the fact, police Lt. Bobby Stewart said at the time. Stewart declined to discuss the relationship between Eric Jackson and Anderson.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com