Jeremy Apperson and his wife had stopped for gas in Philadelphia, Miss., on Aug. 25 when Robert Leon Jackson allegedly tried to rob the couple.
After seeing a gun pulled on his wife, Apperson drew his own concealed weapon and fired at the robber, who fired back. Apperson was hit and died at the scene. At that point the robber walked into the convenience store, where he shot two people, killing a female clerk.
However, another employee also had a gun and fired at the robber, who fled on foot without obtaining money.
When police responded to the CEFCO convenience store on Highway 16 around 5:30 p.m., they found two bodies. During the investigation, police discovered the suspect at a nearby motel, nursing a gun shot wound. Jackson, who is from Jackson, Miss., claimed to have been shot by a bystander.
Police said it is unknown who hit the alleged robber. However, the third victim drove himself to the hospital.
System Fails Mississippi Gun Owner
According to the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Jackson was convicted of robbery in 2012. A judge sentenced Jackson to 15 years, but correctional officials released him in January on earned release supervision.
The shooting caught the community by surprise, especially since the suspect should have still been in custody of the state.
“I understand the system but many times the system is just failing us.” said Philadelphia Mayor James Young said to the Clarion Ledger. “But, most of our crimes, many are committed by the same people. I don’t know, I don’t know what answers there are. This gentleman just chose Philadelphia to be his killing field.”
Jackson appeared in court in a hospital gown. He was charged with two counts of capital murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
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