1 day ago in Crime, Local, ZZZ App Top Stories
Jawoun Deshun Hackett, 17, pleaded guilty to several felony charges related to a shooting in downtown Asheville. Photo: Saga Communications
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
A teenager pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from shootings at last year’s Juneteenth Festival.
Jawoun Deshun Hackett, 17, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, one count of felony possession of a stolen firearm and one count of misdemeanor possession of a handgun by a minor, the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The case originated in juvenile court but was transferred to Superior Court by indictment, and Hackett was prosecuted as an adult.
The shootings happened about 8:51 p.m. June 17 in Pack Square Park during Asheville’s first Juneteenth Festival.
It was reported that a young black male, later identified as Hackett, wearing a red jacket, a black ski mask and a fanny pack slung across his chest, shot a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old with a two-toned silver and black pistol. Hackett was taken into custody minutes after the shootings.
N.C. Division of Adult Corrections Probation and Parole Officer Kalla Hughley was at the event with her family and witnessed the shooting, the news release said. Hughley immediately applied a tourniquet to the leg of the more seriously wounded juvenile, the news release said. She also provided a witness statement to Asheville police.
The two victims were transported to Mission Hospital for treatment and were later discharged after making a full recovery, the news release said.
Hughley was awarded the Bronze Medal of Honor by One Voice United for her swift, life-saving response, the news release said.
At the time of his arrest, Hackett was wearing a red jacket and black ski mask as described by witnesses, and officers found a two-toned silver and black 9mm handgun concealed in bushes near him, according to the news release.
Investigators later received a video showing a fight between the victims and Hackett, who was seen in the video drawing a two-toned handgun, according to the news release. Subsequent forensic evaluation of the recovered 9mm handgun determined that it was stolen from an unsecured vehicle in Macon County on Nov. 11, 2022.
The news release said the victims and their parents were consulted and approved the disposition but declined to participate in further proceedings against the defendant.
Hughley, who appeared in court, encouraged Hackett to make good choices, complete his education and strive to become a productive citizen upon his release from prison, the news release said.
Joseph N. Crosswhite observed that if it were not for Hughley’s life-saving assistance, Hackett could well have been charged and convicted of first-degree murder and might have been sentenced to life without parole. Crosswhite further noted, “not only did she save the victims’ lives, she saved yours,” according to the news release.
Hackett appeared to become emotional as he addressed Hughley and the judge, stating, “I am very thankful for Officer Hughley and that she saved him and I apologize to her and her family. I know what I did wasn’t right,” the news release said.
Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys, who prosecuted the case for the state, informed the court that the impacts of this incident were felt not only by Hackett and the victims, but by the community as whole.
“I gave a lot of thought to the structure of this plea, and it is designed with my sincere hope and that of the State that upon his release from custody, Mr. Hackett will receive the structure, education, and support that he needs to never again be involved in the criminal justice system,” Kurdys said as she presented the case to the court.
Hackett was sentenced to two consecutive felony sentences. He will first serve an active sentence of 20-36 months in the custody of N.C. State Prisons. After he completes that term, Hackett will be released to serve a supervised probationary term of three years. If he violates probation, a suspended prison term of 25-42 months may be activated, sending him back to prison.
As a special condition of probation, Hackett was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Kurdys asked, and the court ordered, that at least 25 hours of community service be through engagement with local organizations dedicated to juvenile violence intervention, the news release said.
Crosswhite adopted the recommendations and further ordered Hackett to be released to supervised probation, serve a term of electronic monitoring of 160 days, complete his graduate equivalency diploma and have no contact with the victims.
Hackett had 87 days of pre-trial credit at the time of the plea.
