Judge Requests Additional Time to Review Mother, Son Severance in a Homicide Case

By Mackenzie Konjoyan , Ben Dickson , Thomas Hinton - July 3, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan announced a delay in ruling on a motion to sever mother and son homicide co-defendants, to further review the evidence and case law, during a July 2 hearing.

Jaquell Jackson, 20, and Chakeatia Jackson, 39, are charged with second-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Tarshaqua Chappell on Sept. 15, 2021, on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE. 

According to court documents, the murder stemmed from a verbal altercation between Chakeatia and Chappell at Ballou High School on the 3400 block of 4th Street, SE. Following the argument, Chakeatia and Jaquell were allegedly seen pointing at Chappell’s vehicle and shots being fired on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.  

Jaquell, through his defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, submitted a motion to sever the two defendants. 

Judge Raffinin said she was unable to decide on the request as she needed more time for review.

Judge Raffanin asked the prosecution to clarify what surveillance footage witnesses saw when they identified Jaquell Jackson. Furthermore, she checked about four additional witnesses who were not asked to identify Jaquell outside of court.

Judge Raffanin asked McDaniel to provide case law describing a situation in which severing cases between a mother and son co-defendants assisted in deliberations.

The defense also put their concerns on record about the relationship between Jaquell and Chakeatia if either of them are used as witnesses in the other’s case. 

However, the prosecution said it was not the same situation, but he was aware of a case that was recently before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt that involved mother and son co-defendants. 

Parties are slated to reconvene July 16.