SAN FRANCISCO―The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office has confirmed the arrest of Michael Higginbotham, 26, who has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Jermaine Jackson Jr., a San Francisco Department of Public Works employee.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, November 30, while Jackson, 27, was painting over graffiti in the Mission District, between the area of 25th and Vermont Streets. According to reports, Jackson was shot around 8 a.m. and was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital. Jackson was the father of two children.
The San Francisco Police Department indicated Higginbotham was arrested in Vallejo on the suspicion of murder and booked at the San Francisco County Jail.
KTVU News reported on December 1 that Higginbotham is a known gang member, and a rival to the gang that Jackson was allegedly once affiliated with. In 2010, Higginbotham was charged with a gun violation in connection with the assault of an Internal Revenue Service officer.
“This was a young man who worked very hard to build a good life for himself and his children, and was committed to his work keeping the City of San Francisco and our neighborhoods clean,” said SF Mayor Edward M. Lee in a statement. “This is a tragic instance of a life cut short.”
Higginbotham’s was arraigned in court on December 2, where he pleaded not guilty to murder. According to Higginbotham’s attorney Matt Sotorosen, the Public Defender’s Office plans on reviewing the surveillance footage and police body cameras in order to conduct its own investigation into who the shooter could be.
“None of witness statements identified him as shooter in this case,” Sotorosen said. “He’s very concerned about these serious charges.”
No motive for the shooting has been disclosed to the public. Higginbotham remains in custody on a $5 million bail.
Investigators are asking anyone with information on this case to contact the San Francisco Police anonymously at (415) 575-4444 or text-a-tip to TIP411 with SFPD at the start of the message.
