It was the culmination of a series of violent confrontations, but today justice took a step forward as Jaymon Gibson, a Henderson resident, received a sentence of 71 months in prison for a firearm charge. Gibson, a 26-year-old convicted felon, had pled guilty on October 10, 2024, as confirmed in court documents.
Gibson's conviction stems from involvement in two gang-related shootings, where he both possessed and discharged firearms. One of these incidents occurred on May 10, 2022, when Henderson Police Department officers found Gibson with gunshot wounds in a car, a Glock 19 nearby, as described by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. In an unfortunate mix-up, co-defendant Monica Ellis reported the Glock as stolen the day after that incident, later pleading guilty to lying to a federal agent regarding the straw purchase of the weapon for Gibson.
Another shootout took place at the Gate City Foods gas station on May 28, 2022, resulting in gunfire exchange between Gibson and several individuals, including Jordan Turnage. Surveillance footage documented the harrowing daylight exchange, where gunfire damaged the surrounding area. Following this incident, Gibson was arrested with a .22 caliber rifle matching shell casings from the scene, which added to the evidence leading to his conviction.
Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar emphasized the commitment to public safety, stating that keeping firearms away from criminals remains a priority. "We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that are the most significant contributors to violence," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. An evident testament to the collaborative commitment amongst federal and local law enforcement, the ATF and Henderson Police Chief Marcus W. Barrow were instrumental in this case.
Meanwhile, the case against Turnage, who was not a felon at the time of his involvement, was handled in state court, resulting in an active sentence ranging from 38 to 58 months. Monica Ellis, on her part, has been sentenced to time served and faces two years of supervised release.
