Severance Motion in Mother-and-Son Homicide Denied 

By Gelela Tesfaye [former] - July 16, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan denied a motion to sever mother and son homicide co-defendants, during a July 16 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.  

In court,  Tommy Thom, Chakeatia’s defense attorney, filed a motion to separate her trial from Jaquell’s, arguing that his attorney, Brian McDaniel,  could act as a second prosecutor towards her. They also argued the evidence against her is limited compared to the case against Jaquell. 

Likewise, McDaniel filed a motion to sever, citing prejudice. In the motion, McDaniel argued “Even if Ms. Jackson did not go so far as to allege that her own son committed the offense of his own volition, the mere fact that she is sitting at the trial table with her son… would undoubtedly lead the jury to believe that Mr. Jackson is in fact the person who is seen on the video committing the offense.” 

Judge Raffinan ultimately found both defendant’s lacked a basis to sever, and denied the requests. 

Parties are slated to return on Sept. 20.