On January 21, 2023, at approximately 3:00 a.m., a shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Marketplace Shopping Center on South Glenburnie Road in New Bern, North Carolina. Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals with gunshot wounds. Among them was 29-year-old Mishawn "Juiceman" Akeem Jackson, Sr., who was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The incident also claimed the life of 34-year-old Paul Anthony Edwards, Jr., of Vanceboro. A third individual, identified as 34-year-old Clonzie Lee Nealy, Jr., of New Bern, sustained injuries and was hospitalized in stable condition. Nealy was later identified as the suspected gunman in the shooting.
Investigations revealed that more than 20 rounds were fired during the altercation, with 26 rifle-type shell casings and two 9mm shell casings recovered from the scene. Autopsy reports indicated that Edwards suffered four gunshot wounds from .223 caliber bullets, with a fatal wound to the torso. Jackson sustained a single gunshot wound to the back of the head, suggesting he was fleeing at the time he was shot.
Following his release from the hospital, Nealy was arrested on January 30, 2023, by ECU Health Police and charged with two counts of murder. He was held without bond and awaited transfer to the Craven County Jail. The case remained under active investigation as authorities gathered additional information for prosecution.
Mishawn Jackson was survived by his wife, Tashala Gilliam Jackson, and their five children. His funeral service was held on January 27, 2023, at West Street Christian Church in New Bern, followed by interment at Evergreen Cemetery.
