In the quiet early morning hours of August 20, 2007, the life of 19-year-old Nick DeSimone of Everett, Washington, was tragically cut short. A former soccer standout at Mariner High School, the male teen was spending the night at his girlfriend's home in Stanwood. The couple had fallen asleep on the floor in front of the television. In what should have been a peaceful slumber, DeSimone was fatally shot once in the head.
His girlfriend, then 16, was asleep next to him and later recounted
to investigators that she was vaguely roused by a loud pop and the smell of smoke, dismissing it as part of a dream. It wasn't until her father tried to wake the young man the following morning that the horrific discovery was made. When police arrived, they found DeSimone deceased with obvious signs of trauma. The shocking nature of the crime, occurring within the presumed safety of a home, sent ripples of fear and grief through the community.
The investigation quickly focused on 18-year-old Dustin Maurice Jackson, the ex-boyfriend of DeSimone's girlfriend. Detectives learned that Jackson was jealous of the new relationship and had reportedly made threats against DeSimone, allegedly stating he was going to shoot him in the face. Investigators believe Jackson entered the home through an unlocked door and fired the fatal shot as DeSimone slept. A neighbor provided a crucial piece of information, having seen a car similar to Jackson's near the residence around the time of the shooting.
Within a day of the killing, Dustin Maurice Jackson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The subsequent legal proceedings revealed a motive rooted in jealousy. In February 2008, Jackson pleaded guilty to the charge. During an emotional sentencing hearing, the judge and prosecutors described the act as a "cold-blooded execution." Jackson was sentenced to nearly 28 years in prison, the maximum penalty allowed under state guidelines for the senseless act that ended a promising young life.
