Willie Russell Jackson, known affectionately as "Sleepy Bill," was a 66-year-old African American man who lived in Wilmington, NC. On the night of August 4, 2017, he was found dead on his porch at 1910 Castle Street from a gunshot wound. The incident occurred around 1:00 a.m., when a 911 call reported a person being shot. When police arrived, they discovered Jackson dead on his porch.
The investigation led to the arrest of 16-year-old Jac'qual Raymond De'shocka Goodman, a ninth-grader at
New Hanover School. Goodman was charged with first-degree murder and assault by pointing a gun. This was not his first encounter with the law; just six weeks prior, he had been arrested on charges of misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. The motive behind the killing has not been disclosed by the Wilmington Police Department.
Jackson's death deeply affected the tight-knit community between 13th Street and Wrightsville Avenue. Many residents remembered him as a kind-hearted man who was like a father figure to the neighborhood children. He was known for handing out dollars for candy and ice cream and always having a smile and encouraging words for everyone.
The case marked Wilmington's 15th homicide investigation of the year, surpassing the total number of homicides in the city for the entire previous year. The community expressed outrage over the senseless slaying of a man who was well-loved and respected.
Funeral services for Willie Russell Jackson were held on August 12, 2017, at ILA Hall, with burial following at Calvary Memorial Cemetery. His death left a void in the community, and many continue to remember him fondly.
