Competency Concerns Set 2019 Patricide Case in LImbo

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A man accused of killing his father in 2019 following years of alleged abuse is set to appear in court in November for a mental health observation hearing before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin.

Ruben Jackson, Jr., 33, is charged with first- and second-degree murder and firearm use in connection to the 2019 murder of his father, 60-year-old Ruben Jackson, Sr., in their shared home in North Baltimore. The case, which is a month over six years old, is inactive due to concerns regarding Jackson’s competency to stand trial.

On April 12, 2019, officers responded to a residence on the 5800 block of Halwyn Avenue following a report of a family disturbance. Upon arrival, officers observed an argument between Jackson and his parents. Officers asked if Jackson’s parents needed help. They responded they would “deal with the issue” themselves.

Investigating officers later learned the argument broke out because Jackson’s father wanted to place a bed rail in his son’s room. Jackson and his mother objected, prompting Jackson’s father to push him down the stairs.

On April 14, 2019, Jackson’s mother called 911 to report finding her husband deceased in the basement of their shared residence. His body was located wrapped in a blanket and surrounded by blood. Officers detained Jackson and recovered a spent bullet casing from his jacket pocket.

During questioning, Jackson initially denied involvement in his father’s murder. As interrogation continued, he continued to give varying accounts of the incident. Jackson ultimately said he shot his father in self-defense following years of physical and emotional abuse.

He claimed he and his father were moving an armoire to the basement on April 14 when an argument broke out, prompting Jackson’s father to produce a revolver.

“I don’t need this gun to kill you,” Jackson said his father threatened. “I can do it with my bare hands.”

Jackson said his father then put down the revolver and began choking him for “many, many seconds.” As Jackson began blacking out, he reached for the gun and fired, striking his father in the side. He then fired three more bullets.

Medical examiners later conducted an autopsy on Jackson’s father’s body and found that one bullet entered his father’s right temple before lodging in his left jawbone, one struck the back of his head, and one travelled from his left arm to his left chest before lodging in his sternum. Results suggested the first three shots were fired from close range, state court documents.

Court documents also note the defense in Jackson’s trial initially focused on “the scope of self-defense” and the constant physical and emotional abuse Jackson suffered at his father’s hands. Jackson testified his father frequently called him “dumb ass, p*ssy, punk bitch,” and “stupid ass,” and described their relationship as “rocky” and “up and down.”

In 2019, Jackson’s mother, who usually diffused domestic arguments, underwent heart surgery. Jackson claimed his relationship with his father only worsened during that time. His mother’s eventual recovery from the surgery did nothing to stop the abuse, he said.

On Feb. 19, 2020, a jury found Jackson guilty of second-degree murder and firearm use in a violent crime. He was sentenced roughly two years later on Feb. 25, 2022, to 25 years for second-degree murder and five concurrent years for firearm use.

On Aug. 17, 2023, the Appellate Court of Maryland reversed Baltimore City’s judgment and remanded the case for trial. Jackson was ordered to be held without bail, “rather than risk public safety or his mother’s safety — considering her testimony is indispensable to the Defendant’s innocence or guilt.”

Jackson is set to return to Baltimore City’s mental health court on Nov. 19 before Judge Gale E. Rasin.