After closing statements on July 7 Dewitt Jackson‘s fate is in the hands of the jury,
Jackson, 29, is charged with shooting and killing Bryan Stansbury, 18, on Dec. 10 ,2025. Prosecutors allege Jackson and another suspect staked out Stansbury’s house on the 1100 block of Quantril Way. After waiting on the porch for the front door to open, one of two suspects reportedly barged in. According to the state, Stansbury and Jackson reportedly got into a physical altercation at the doorstop, leading Jackson to shoot Stansbury in the head.
Jackson and his accomplice allegedly arrived at the home in a white Ford Explorer, which they attempted to burn in Clifton Park. The defendant is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree arson, conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.
While cross-examining the case’s lead detective, defense attorney Staci Pipkin argued one of the state’s eyewitnesses had memory problems and gave information that did not match her initial testimony.
During closing arguments, the state emphasized evidence presented throughout trial, including Jackson’s cellphone location data, which closely matched the suspect’s movements on the day of the crime. Jackson had also attempted to switch the Ford Explorer’s license plates, which prosecutors argued was an attempt to conceal the car used to get to the murder scene.
The state claimed that Jackson’s acts and statements showed intent to murder, and that he was at the least an accomplice in Stansbury’s death.
Pipkin argued the state’s lack of eyewitness testimony or identification of Jackson at either crime scene demonstrated a lack of sufficient proof. She reminded the jury that DNA experts had analyzed swabs from Stansbury’s hands, but failed to find Jackson’s DNA among the recovered samples.
Pipkin concluded by asking the jury to consider the standard of reasonable doubt while deliberating, and urged jurors to find Jackson not guilty.
The jury is currently deliberating.
