Man who fatally shot cousin sentenced to more than 25 years

A man who killed his cousin was sentenced Monday to more than 25 years in prison.

Curtis Edward Jackson, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in late September. One count of first-degree murder was dismissed at sentencing, and Jackson was given credit for 419 days already served.

Minneapolis police responded to the sound of gunfire on the 800 block of Russell Avenue North in April of 2024. Both Jackson and 28-year-old Marcus David Williams Jr. had been shot. Williams was brought to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

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Jackson was also brought to the hospital, where he told investigators that he and Williams were cousins and had shot each other.

A witness told police that he, Jackson and Williams were in the car together when the two started to fight and stepped out of the car. Jackson fired a gunshot into the air and Williams and the witnesses drove off.

According to court documents, Williams said that Jackson’s backpack was still in the car but that they needed to finish their fight before he would return the backpack.

When the group drove to Russell Avenue, Jackson asked for his backpack, but Williams wouldn’t give it back.

The witness said that Jackson then shot Williams without warning, according to court documents. The witness said that Williams wasn’t facing Jackson at the time of the shooting and that he wasn’t able to defend himself.

Surveillance video showed Jackson asking where the “weed” was and Williams turned toward the car. Court documents state that Jackson pulled out a firearm and pointed it at his cousin “without hesitation.” The beam from a laser sight put a glowing dot on Williams’ shoulder and head, showing Jackson intended to shoot him in vital areas.

Jackson later admitted to the fight and firing a warning shot into the air downtown. He also admitted that he went into his family’s home on Russell Avenue and said it was going to be a “problem” if he didn’t get the backpack back and said he made statements about killing Williams.

Jackson, however, claimed that Williams shot him first, but the criminal complaint states that his account was proven wrong by the surveillance video.
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