MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Michael James Jackson, 39, is headed to federal prison for a decade after a brazen act of gun violence during a high-speed chase through North Minneapolis last year. Jackson was sentenced today to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a stolen firearm.
The incident unfolded on August 27, 2021, when Minneapolis Police officers spotted Jackson speeding and running red lights in a vehicle. A pursuit ensued, ultimately ending with Jackson abandoning the car and fleeing on foot. But he didn’t just run. According to court documents, Jackson pulled a stolen Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and discharged 15 rounds into the air approximately 50 yards from the vehicle and the approaching officers.
The weapon, investigators later determined, was stolen. Jackson’s history further complicated matters. He wasn’t a first-time offender. Court records reveal a pattern of violent crime, including prior convictions for terroristic threats, aggravated robbery, and assault. The combination of a stolen weapon, reckless gunfire, and a lengthy criminal record sealed his fate.
Jackson pleaded guilty on July 8, 2022, to one count of possession of a stolen firearm before Senior Judge Michael J. Davis. The plea avoided a potentially longer sentence, but still carries a significant penalty given the circumstances. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea A. Walcker, successfully argued for a harsh sentence reflecting the danger Jackson posed to the public.
The case was a collaborative effort between the Minneapolis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division played a key role in tracing the stolen firearm and building the case against Jackson. This prosecution underscores the agencies’ commitment to removing illegally possessed firearms from the streets of Minneapolis, a city already grappling with gun violence.
While ten years behind bars won’t erase the risk Jackson posed during that chaotic August night, authorities hope it sends a clear message: illegally possessing and discharging a stolen firearm, particularly in the direction of law enforcement, will be met with the full force of the federal justice system. Jackson’s actions demonstrate a disregard for public safety and a willingness to escalate situations with deadly force.
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