A man from DeKalb County, who had already been convicted of murder in the past, has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. This comes after he was found guilty of killing another man in a violent road rage incident in Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Michael Charles Jackson, 61, was convicted by a jury this week on several charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during a felony. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The tragic events unfolded on the morning of January 27, 2022, along Rockbridge Road in Gwinnett County. Police responding to a crash found 46-year-old Don Wardlaw, a father of two from Stone Mountain, dead in the driver’s seat of his car. He had been shot twice before his car crashed into a yard.
Investigators revealed that Jackson had been following Wardlaw’s car moments before the shooting. Wardlaw, realizing he was being followed, reportedly tried to get away but couldn’t escape.
A week later, Jackson was arrested during a traffic stop related to an unrelated warrant from Clayton County. When police searched his truck and home, they found a box of ammunition and magazines matching the weapon used in the crime, as well as gunshot residue.
“It’s heartbreaking that something as simple as driving could lead to such a senseless act of violence,” said Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson. “We hope this verdict helps Mr. Wardlaw’s family begin to heal from this tragedy.”
This isn’t Jackson’s first time facing serious charges. Back in 1987, he was convicted of murder in North Carolina. More recently, in 2016, he was convicted of disorderly conduct involving a firearm in Rockdale County. During this trial, Jackson chose to represent himself as his own lawyer.
After his conviction, a Gwinnett County judge handed down a harsh sentence: life in prison plus 15 years without any chance of parole.
