Jurors acquit Del City man in shootout
Jurors have found a Del City man not guilty of taking part in an alleged armed robbery that ended in a fatal shootout.
Darious O’Neil Jackson, 23, was acquitted Friday of first-degree murder in the death of Morgan Hurt, 26. She was shot to death early Jan. 12 inside a house in southwest Del City, according to investigators.
Jackson’s cousin, Sharonne Antonio Jackson, now 30, remains charged in the deadly shooting and is set to face his own trial next year.
During Darious Jackson’s trial last week, he told the Oklahoma County jury he didn’t know he and his cousin were going to the house to commit a robbery.
Witnesses said the cousins entered the house, pointed a gun at the victim and demanded money, according to investigators. A shootout ensued between Sharonne Jackson and a man who was in the house during the alleged robbery, investigators reported.
The victim was shot at least twice during the shootout by the man who was already in the house. Prosecutors said the man shot the victim accidentally while acting in self-defense.
The cousins were both charged with firstdegree murder because the victim died during the alleged armed robbery. A person can be charged with “felony murder” if a death occurs during certain felony crimes, such as robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Prosecutors don’t believe Darious Jackson ever had a gun during the incident.
Darious Jackson was being held in jail Monday, records show. He still faces prosecution on a stolen vehicle offense and obstructing an officer.