Full Notification

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 21, 2013
BY: Chief Gill Kendrick

Point of Contact: Capt. T. Miller 731-425-8676 [email protected]

Police Arrest Three in Friday Night Robbery and Shooting in Drug Deal Gone Wrong

Jackson police have arrested two men and a woman in a Friday night robbery and shooting investigation during a drug deal gone wrong.

Around 10:40 p.m., officers were investigating an unrelated call in the area of N. Highland Ave. and Carriage House Dr. when they heard gunfire. Officers moved toward the noise and found Jacob Crossett, 29, of Madison County, lying on the parking lot of Taco Bell, located at 2330 N. Highland Ave. Crossett had suffered gunshot wounds to both legs. Officers were able to obtain a description of the car that the suspects had fled in.

The car was spotted in the area of North Parkway and Campbell St. Police attempted to stop the car, and the driver fled causing officers to pursue. The car was finally stopped in the area of Fernlawn St. And Cherry Place after officers deployed spike strips and did a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver.

The occupants of the car were not seriously injured. Two police cars received minor damage due to the PIT maneuver. The driver was identified as Preston Gray, 23, of Enville. A second man, Allen Evans, 36, of Chicago and a Jackson woman were also inside the car.

Based on the investigation, Gray set up a drug deal with Crossett. They met at Taco Bell to make the transaction. When Crossett attempted to sell Gray and Evans the simulated narcotics, Evans took the purported drugs and demanded money. Crossett refused to give up any money. Evans then pulled a gun and shot him both legs.

Police recovered the simulated drugs and a gun from Gray's car. The gun had previously been reported stolen in Madison County.
During the drug deal, Crossett was accompanied by Tracey Chambliss, 30, of Madison County. Police determined that she had an outstanding arrest warrant. She was transported to the Madison County Jail and faces charges of violation of community corrections and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Evans and Gray were both transported to the Madison County Jail. They both face a charge of especially aggravated robbery of Crossett.

Evans will face an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft of property for being in possession of the stolen gun.

Gray will face an additional charge of sale and delivery of a controlled substance for facilitating the drug deal. Even though the drugs were not real, they were packaged in a manner and purportedly narcotics. Gray will also face a charge of felony evading arrest by motor vehicle.

Crossett was released from the hospital around 3 a.m. today.

Chambliss, Evans and Gray will be arraigned at 8 a.m. Monday in Jackson City Court.

This case remains under investigation, and additional charges are likely.

Pic 1 Gray
Pic 2 Evans
Pic 3 Chambliss