In the light of a summer afternoon on July 29, 2021, the life of Alicia Heywood, a 42-year-old White / Caucasian woman, was tragically cut short. A resident of South Easton, Massachusetts, and a former Hyde Parker, she was gunned down in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston, near the Sullivan Pharmacy where she was a dedicated employee. The shooting, which occurred around 1:18 p.m.
near the intersection of Corinth and Birch Streets, was not a random act of violence but one authorities quickly linked to domestic violence.
Alicia was remembered by those who knew her as a loving single mother, a loyal friend, and an all-around amazing person. She had a long career in customer relations and was known for her innate desire to help others. Her sudden and violent death sent ripples of shock and grief through the community, leaving friends, family, and coworkers to mourn the loss of a woman described as being loved by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
The investigation into her death swiftly identified a suspect: Akil Jackson, a 41-year-old man from Easton, who was described as Alicia's intimate partner. A manhunt for Jackson, who was considered armed and dangerous, was launched by the Boston Police Department. Jackson had a prior federal gun violation conviction from 2011. The search came to an end on August 11, 2021, when West Bridgewater Police arrested him. The arrest was initiated after police received a distress call from a monitoring service for victims of violent crimes.
When he was taken into custody, Jackson was found in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen from Georgia. Following his arrest, he faced a murder charge for Alicia Heywood's death, as well as several firearms charges. During a court appearance, he reportedly attempted to hide his face from the view of Alicia's grieving family and friends.
