Umel Jackson was ordered into the temporary custody of United States Marshals as he faces a federal charge of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment.
Magistrate Judge Brian S. Myers presided over Jackson’s initial appearance in Raleigh today where he was read his rights and was advised of the charge and maximum penalty, according to court records.
The government moved for detention and Myers set his detention hearing for Monday at 10 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Robert T. Numbers II.
The indictment against Jackson, who was charged locally in a May standoff in Weldon, is based on a criminal complaint filed by an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The agent wrote in the complaint that on May 20 at approximately 8:30 p.m. agents of the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force executed a search warrant at 1004 Elm Street in Weldon.
This search warrant stemmed from an investigation into Jackson, who was under electronic monitoring on pretrial release and connected to area shootings that occurred the night prior. Agents had previously obtained video footage of a man identified as Jackson in possession of a firearm at the Elm Street address.
On May 19 approximately 20 minutes before the shooting Jackson was seen on the second story balcony of his residence brandishing a firearm consistent in appearance with a Pioneer Arms, Model HELLPUP 7.62-caliber pistol.
On the morning of May 20 at approximately 8:44 a.m. there was a call for service for an armed subject with a handgun outside his home. Agents obtained video footage taken around that time of Jackson standing in the road near his residence with a handgun. He matched the caller’s description of the armed subject.
On the evening of May 20 during the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement vehicles were parked in the driveway and in front of 1004 Elm Street with their emergency lights activated.
As agents approached the front door of the residence, they noticed that the door was barricaded shut. Agents loudly announced, “sheriff’s office, search warrant” and attempted to breach the door.
One agent was still in the front yard at this time and observed Jackson holding a weapon on the second floor. The agent called to him to put the gun down. “At this time Jackson fired a shot at the agents attempting to breach the door,” the complaint said. “In response the agents called to Jackson asking him to put the gun down and they didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
In response, according to the complaint, Jackson responded “it’s too late for that” and immediately fired a second shot.
Over approximately the next 30 minutes, there was a large law enforcement response and multiple officers gathered on the road. “Jackson’s mother also arrived to try and talk him into surrendering. At one point, Jackson’s mother attempted to run into the house and was held back by officers.”
Jackson then fired a third shot from the second story balcony directly over the initial team, nearly striking two agents. “The officers stationed on the road saw Jackson fire that shot,” the complaint said. “The agents on the porch then decided to retreat to a better position of cover.” There was a standoff for approximately one hour and Jackson asked to speak with Sergeant George Evans of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, his electronic monitor handler.
Evans arrived on scene and began negotiating with Jackson, who ultimately exited the house along with a woman, who in court was identified as his sister. He was taken into custody.
On May 22 the ATF agent writing the complaint conferred with an ATF firearms nexus expert regarding the HELLPUP and determined it was not manufactured in North Carolina and to be received in North Carolina it traveled in or affected interstate or foreign commerce.
Meanwhile, on April 24 of last year a Halifax County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment on Jackson for robbery with a dangerous weapon in Halifax County.
The ATF’s National Tracing Center Firearms Trace Summary Report states the HELLPUP was purchased on February 19 from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Roanoke Rapids by someone other than Jackson. “Therefore, Jackson had to have received the firearm while he was under indictment and after he knew that he was under indictment — between February 19, 2024 and May 20, 2024,” the complaint says. “Because the charges remain pending and have not been dismissed, at the time Jackson received the firearm — between February 19, 2024 and May 20, 2024 — he would have actually been under indictment.”
