Shooting victim’s family protests

Published 12:00 pm Friday, March 20, 2015

The family of Willie James Jackson III staged a protest in front of the Suwannee County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon to draw attention to what they believe is an unfair justice system.

Jackson, 30, Live Oak, was fatally shot on Nov. 29, 2014 at the Big B nightclub off Walker Avenue in Live Oak. Michael Carrigan, Tampa, was charged with second degree homicide for Jackson’s death, but the charge was dropped after a Suwannee County grand jury found insufficient evidence to indict Carrigan in February.

Jackson’s sister, Victoria Conton, believes justice was not dealt in Jackson’s case. She led a group of Jackson’s family members and friends in holding signs up for passing traffic on Ohio Avenue (US 129) and pedestrians in front of the courthouse. Some of the signs read “Affected Hearts, Unfair Justice”, “Who Do You Call When You Need Help?”, and “Best Trialed by 12 Than Carried by 6”.

“I can’t see my brother anymore,” Victoria said. “That man [Carrigan], he can go and see his. But I can’t see mine. I’m just tired of my family getting no justice.”

Jackson was the second person in Victoria’s family to be killed in Live Oak within the last five years, she explained. Marvin Lewis O’Hara, 35, of Live Oak was fatally shot on March 27, 2010. A suspect, John Ware, could not be tied to the shooting due to insufficient evidence, according to police reports from 2010.

“We want to get some kind of conclusion,” said Eli Conton, Jackson’s brother-in-law, on Jackson’s death.

Eli believes Suwannee County’s justice system is flawed and Victoria agreed, stating the grand jury failed to do their job. She believes charges could still be pressed against Carrigan for assault on over two dozen people who were also at the Big B the night of the shooting. The Contons said they hope people continue to provide information and statements to the Live Oak Police Department regarding the Big B shooting.

State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister previously told the Suwannee Democrat that Carrigan could face a minor second degree misdemeanor for carrying a concealed weapon, for which he was permitted, into a bar, which violates Florida Statutes.