COLUMBIA, S.C. — Bond has been set at $75,000 for one of the two siblings charged with murder in the shooting death of a 46-year-old tow truck driver who was repossessing a car at the suspects' home on Fairmont Drive.
Prosecutors at the bond hearing Wednesday of 19-year-old Essence Jackson said her brother, 20-year-old Raheem Jackson, was responsible for shooting Steven Hughes on Fairmont Drive back in June. Hughes had come to the area to repossess a car that belonged to Essence, prosecutors told the judge. But they said text messages on her phone revealed she was responsible for moving the car from the incident and attempting to hide the gun her brother allegedly used to kill Hughes.
"I was hoping for a little more because, I mean, she was still an accessory. She still played a part in it, but hopefully, maybe she'll learn from it," said Stephanie Hughes, the victim's daughter. "He was caring, he was compassionate. Even in his job he was. He didn’t deserve to go like this, but he’s gonna be remembered the way he should."
Jackson's lawyers and the judge said that Essence Jackson is constitutionally entitled to bond because she has no prior violent offenses that make her a danger to society, and the fact that she was arrested five days after the shooting at work, which her lawyers said demonstrates she was not evading police and wasn't a flight risk.
"Everyone agrees that she is not the shooter," said Essence Jackson's attorney, Seth Rose. "So she’s 19 years old, an honor roll student, no prior record at all; she was arrested roughly a week later at work. But she's clearly not a flight risk, she’s clearly not a danger to the community and she has a constitutional right to a bond."
The shooting happened on June 10, but prosecutors said the car had been moved several times to avoid being repossessed, and when Hughes came to get the car, Essence woke everyone up in the house, and her brother went outside to deal with it. Hughes was found shot in the head but was still breathing when Richland County Deputies arrived. The vehicle and several surrounding homes were found with bullet holes.
"Essence is a high school graduate. She helps me a lot at home," said Courtney Jackson, the suspects' sister. "I just really, really ask that you grant her a reasonable bond today so she can get back on track."
Raheem Jackson's bond has not been set. Both suspects are booked at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.