Aug. 6, 2019

A Jackson County judge on Tuesday sentenced Deandre Jackson to 26 years in prison for the Nov. 12, 2016 fatal shooting of Maryanna Pennington and the wounding of three other women inside a vehicle near 21st and Cleveland, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

In sentencing Jackson, Jackson County Judge John Torrence noted that today’s government action encourages the possession and use of firearms. “When you couple that with anger, fights, domestic strife, what can only be described as insigificant conflict, it sadly ends up with shell casings,” he continued.

Still, the shooting of the four women in November 2016,the judge said, was tragic and inexplicable.

In June, Jackson pleaded guilty to ten felony counts in connection with the Nov. 12, 2016 shooting. Jackson, dob: 12/1/1991, of Raytown, MO, pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd  Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, three counts of Assault 1st Degree and five counts of Armed Criminal Action. On Tuesday, the judge sentenced Jackson to 26 years on each of the counts, setting all the sentences to run concurrently.

According to court records, Jackson fired into a stranded vehicle with four women inside near 21st and Cleveland on Saturday, killing Pennington, 25. The women’s car had broken down and they were calling for help. A witness told police that Jackson shot into the vehicle. More than 30 spent shell casings were found at the scene. A witness told police a woman earlier identified as the defendant’s girlfriend had been in an altercation with Pennington a few hours before the fatal shooting.  

Jackson pleaded just before his trial was set to begin. 

Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Dan Nelson and Jennifer Tatum prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.