2.7.12: Jackson, McClurkin Sentenced for Attempting to Kill Man in Front of Victim's Mother
February 7, 2012 -- Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch sentenced Tavon Jackson and Dijon McClurkin yesterday for attempting to murder a man whose mother was watching out for him as he tried to walk the short distance to a friend's home. Jackson received life in prison, with all but 75 years suspended; McClurkin also received life in prison, with all but 60 years suspended.
On April 30, 2010, Reginald Maynard asked his mother to stand watch as he walked to visit a friend who lived on the same street, Shannon Drive in Northeast Baltimore. He was concerned about the presence of Jackson, who also resided on Shannon Drive since the two had a history of not getting along. His mother agreed and at around 11 p.m. went to the front porch to keep an eye on her son.
Shortly after leaving, Maynard did encounter Jackson, who was speaking into a burgundy SUV double-parked outside of Jackson's house. Spotting Maynard, the man in the front passenger seat of the SUV, McClurkin, jumped out, ran up behind the victim and opened fire on him.
Maynard's mother responded by running off of the porch and toward the shooter, screaming for him to stop. McClurkin stopped, but only to turn the gun at Maynard's mother; McClurkin did not fire on her, and the two men — along with the driver of the SUV — fled the area in the vehicle. Maynard suffered two gunshot wounds to the torso.
After tracking down the fleeing SUV from the air and the ground, the Baltimore City Police arrested Jackson, McClurkin, and the vehicle's driver, Donte Anderson.
After a six-day trial, a jury convicted Jackson, 27, and McClurkin, 20, in October 2011 of attempted first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and other charges. A month later, Anderson, 25, pled guilty to related charges.
Assistant State's Attorneys Kelly Madigan and Patricia McLane of the Major Investigations Unit prosecuted the case.