Police make arrest in deadly west Jackson shooting
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Police have charged a man with murder in a shooting last Tuesday in west Jackson that left one man dead. Jeremy Echols, 25, of Jackson was arrested Monday and is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of James Roberson, 25, also of Jackson, according to a release from the Jackson Police Department. Neighbors living next to Roberson said they are relieved the alleged gunman is in jail. “We all grew up together in this neighborhood, and I’m just happy that he — that they found him and the family can have closure,” a neighbor who did not wish to be identified said. Echols is in custody at the Madison County Jail and will be arraigned at 8 a.m. Wednesday by video link in Jackson City Court. Police believe Echols had a motive for killing Roberson but said they cannot release details at this time because of the ongoing investigation. “We can’t reveal many details, but he was developed as a person of interest. During the investigation we spoke with witnesses, developed a motive, which we can’t elaborate on at this point,” Lt. Phillip Stanfill with the Criminal Investigation Unit said. Police were called to the shooting around 9:15 a.m. Jan. 20 and upon arrival found Roberson’s body lying on the ground beside a parked car at a Woodberry Trail residence. Investigators believe Roberson was picking up a friend. As he and the friend were sitting in the car, the suspect pulled onto the street in a white Nissan Maxima, police have said. The suspected gunman then approached Roberson’s car and fired multiple shots, hitting the car, according to the release. Police said Roberson was hit as he was trying to get out of the car. The passenger was not injured. Stanfill said they do not believe anyone else was involved. Echols has pending charges out of Jackson City Court for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft for possessing a stolen handgun out of Henderson County, the release states. He was arrested on those charges in Jackson last Wednesday when investigators executed a search warrant on Brookhaven Drive in Jackson in connection to the homicide investigation. Echols was released from jail Saturday on those charges after posting a $150,000 bond before being arrested Monday on the murder charge, according to the release. His court date for those charges is at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 5 in Jackson City Court. Neighbors said they feel safer in the neighborhood now. “I do feel a lot safer, because I have a son and they all, all the kids out here play together.”
