PHILADELPHIA, MI — A man is behind bars after his attempted armed robbery went wildly wrong, resulting in the death of two innocent people.
While trying to rob a convenience store, Robert Jackson reportedly threatened the clerk. He was then confronted by an armed citizen, who shot him. Jackson replied by shooting the clerk and an armed citizen multiple times, killing them. On top of that, he wounded another.
And on top of that, he was released from jail early to make this all happen.
As the Clarion Ledger reports:
A Jackson man who was released from prison early is facing capital murder charges after authorities say he killed two people in a weekend convenient store robbery in Philadelphia.
Robert Leon Jackson, 30, of 224 Manship St., has been charged with two counts of capital murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of a felon in possession of a firearm and is being held without bond, according to the Neshoba Democrat.
Cashier Megan Staats and customer Jeremy Apperson were shot and killed. A third man was injured. According to police, Jackson was the robbing the store when he was shot by Apperson or someone else at the store.
Samantha Apperson said Jackson pointed a gun at her, and Jeremy Apperson pulled his pistol to defend her. Samantha Apperson says Jackson shot her husband several times. Jackson was captured at a nearby hotel. Mississippi Department of Corrections records show Jackson was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2012 for robbing a furniture store. He was released in January on earned release supervision.
The man earned an early release from jail — that’s an opportunity so many people trying to go straight would do anything for, and flew right back into pathetic crime.
It’s unbelievable.
Folks, this is what can happen when you choose to carry, concealed or otherwise.
We have the pleasure and privilege of relaying crimes that are intervened against and either stopped or prevented on a regular basis. It’s both heartening, and an honor to myself, personally.
However, we would be remiss to not consider that sometimes, you don’t win.
It could be that this carrier failed to fire until the threat was neutralized, or it could be that he did everything he could be expected to but was cut down in spite of his efforts. Regardless, that’s a reality we face every time we carry.
That’s something we accept when we choose to intervene in the commission of a life-threatening crime.
That’s not meant to scare anyone — but it’s a sobering thought.
It’s also damned well reason enough to invest in the time, money, and effort needed to be the best concealed carrier you can be.
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