In the spring of 2016, a violent encounter on a street in Mount Vernon, New York, ended the life of 42-year-old Charles Smith. On the afternoon of April 17th, Smith was riding his bicycle near the intersection of East 3rd Street and South 1st Avenue when he was targeted in a brazen shooting. The incident was not a random act of violence, according to police.
The events unfolded at approximately 5:23 p.m. when a man, later identified as Bobby G.
Jackson of New York City, spotted Smith and began to pursue him. Jackson chased Smith for two blocks before opening fire, striking him in the back. The single gunshot wound proved to be fatal, causing devastating internal injuries. After being shot, Smith fell from his bicycle and struck his head on the pavement. He succumbed to his injuries within minutes, right there on the street. The shooting was particularly reckless as it occurred in a public area with multiple pedestrians present, including a woman pushing a baby stroller.
In the days following the shooting, the Mount Vernon Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to a suspect. On April 20, 2016, authorities arrested Bobby G. Jackson in connection with the killing. Jackson, a resident of West 122nd Street in New York City, was subsequently indicted on several charges, including Murder in the Second Degree.
Ultimately, Jackson pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree. In September 2017, he was sentenced for his role in the death of Charles Smith. The court imposed a sentence of nineteen years to life in prison.
