Murder suspect in court for arraignment

Published 10:14 pm Thursday, July 28, 2016

Suspects in connection to the murder of a 19-year-old Tyler man appeared in court for arraignment Thursday.

Murder suspect Joe Jackson remains at the Dallas County Jail, while his alleged getaway driver, Jasper Cole, was given a $200,000 bond, according to District Attorney Michael Jackson.

Vaughn Russell is representing Joe Jackson, while Garrison Thompson was appointed to represent Cole.

Email newsletter signup

The two suspects turned themselves in at the Selma Police Department on Wednesday afternoon, according to the district attorney’s office.

Joe Jackson is facing one count of capital murder, a Class A felony, and two counts of shooting into a vehicle. He was originally charged with attempted murder until the victim, 19-year-old Vontrayvious Bennett, of Tyler, died this past weekend from a gunshot wound to the head.

Cole is facing one count of first-degree hindering prosecution, a Class A felony, for allegedly driving Joe Jackson away from the crime scene.

The shooting happened the evening of July 18. Investigators believe Bennett was a backseat passenger of a vehicle traveling down King Street when the shooting occurred.

Bennett was shot at least once in the back of the head, according to authorities.

In a previous report, Lt. Tory Neely said the driver of the vehicle then drove Bennett to the hospital, where he was then airlifted to University of Alabama at Birmingham trauma center.

The U.S. Marshals Service Mobile District aided Selma police in the investigation.