CLEVELAND — Donald Jackson-Gates, 20, the great-grandson of former Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison after pleading guilty last week to murder for a 2022 shooting that left a man dead.
Jackson-Gates pleaded guilty to murder in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
He was indicted last year for the death of Chris-Shon Coleman, who was shot on May 14, 2022.
Authorities say Jackson-Gates fired 17 rounds at Coleman on East 40th Street, just blocks away from where the former mayor and multiple Jackson family members live.
Court records state that Coleman was the nephew of Robert Shepard, who is the man accused of luring Jackson-Gates’ uncle Frank Q. Jackson to where he was shot and killed in September 2021 when he went to a home to pick up a dirt bike. Shepard was sentenced last year to life in prison for Jackson's death.
"While Chris'Shon and Donald Jackson were still friends, and friendly with each other during this time, we do believe that this shooting was, in some sense, retalliation for what Chris'Shon's family was alleged to have done to Donald Jackson's family," said Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Filiatraut.
News 5 Investigators have followed the legal troubles surrounding Jackson-Gates for years.
In 2019, he was charged in juvenile court after investigators said he was involved in a drive-by shooting a Cleveland police officer.
Later, according to court records, Jackson-Gates admitted to a juvenile court charge of attempted criminal gang activity.
In court Monday, family members of Coleman's said they were not happy with the plea deal that allows Jackson-Gates to be eligible for parole in 18 years.
"You had the keys to the city because of your grandfather allowing you to terrorize and torment this city," said Teresa Moody, Coleman's aunt. "And still you didn't accomplish nothing in life. Failure. All you cared about was being a thug, gangster, or killer or whatever you wanted to call yourself. Where did that get you? You do not deserve a second chance. You had too many chances when most Black men would not be afforded the same."
In response, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold denied the former mayor tried to influence the outcome of the murder case.
"The mayor never was involved in any way shape or form with doing anything to disparage justice in this case," said the judge.
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