HOUSTON – Two men charged in the death of a New Orleans police detective each told investigators they were the getaway driver in the murder, according to prosecutors.
Frederick Jackson, 19, and Anthony Jenkins, 21, appeared in front of a judge Monday, charged with capital murder and attempted capital murder.
Both have criminal records and were out on bond at the time of the shooting.
Jackson and Jenkins claim they were driving the Nissan Altima used to leave the Grotto Ristorante in the Galleria Area on August 21, and two other friends committed the attempted robbery and the shooting.
Jenkins told investigators the Altima belonged to his girlfriend.
The two are accused of shooting and killing New Orleans police detective Everett Briscoe, 41, and injuring his friend DJ Riculfy, who remained hospitalized in the ICU.
The two victims were eating on the patio with other friends when prosecutors said two men tried to rob the group and opened fire.
Investigators said surveillance video caught the men in robberies at several other locations, targeting victims with expensive jewelry and watches.
Jackson and Jenkins were being held without bond until a bond hearing in the next seven days.
Briscoe was a 13-year police veteran, a husband and a father of two. He was laid to rest on Saturday.
Jenkins told investigators the Altima belonged to his girlfriend.
Jackson’s criminal history, as well as the fact that he was out on the streets, have been called into question by some, Andy Kahan at Crime Stoppers is one of them, What happened to Officer Briscoe and his friend was a tragedy, from our perspective so utterly preventable because we had Jackson,” said Kahan.
During an interview with KPRC 2 Investigates on Monday Kahan, who is the Director of Victims’ Services for the Crime Stoppers, said that Jackson was in a class of his own.
“You could put him on a poster for everything that I’ve done on bond reform and you can throw a dart and he would stand out,” said Kahan. “We’re talking a total of five bonds in less than a year.”
A juvenile sexual assault conviction is what really stood out for Kahan in terms of red flags the system should have identified when evaluating Jackson for bond in other cases.
″He was convicted as a juvenile of aggravated sexual assault of a child when he was 15-years-old,” he said.
Several of Jackson’s bonds were out of the 184th Court in Harris County. The court had no comment to KPRC 2 Investigates. Just Abigail Anastasio said she was unable to weigh in as cases are still making their way through the system.
Kahan said the people of Harris County have a right to question the number of bonds issued to Jackson. Kahan.
“We need to know why you felt this was in the best interest of public safety,” he said.
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