16-year-old is arrested in fatal shooting of Toledo teen

8/4/2005
BY CHRISTINA HALL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Jackson
Jackson

A 16-year-old boy charged in the fatal weekend shooting of a Toledo teen was arrested yesterday afternoon and gave investigators a confession during an interview, police said.

Michael Christopher Jackson was arrested without incident at 1042 Avondale Ave. Police conducted surveillance on the location after receiving information that this was one of the places the teen was staying, Lt. Bill Moton said.

The teen, whom police said is a member of the X Blocc Crips gang, is charged with delinquency in connection with murder in the slaying Saturday of Justin Bernal, 16, in North Toledo.

Young Jackson was booked into the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center and is expected to appear at a detention hearing in county juvenile court today - the same day as Justin's funeral.

Proceedings will be instituted to certify young Jackson to stand trial as an adult for the murder, Dan Pompa, Lucas County juvenile court administrator, said yesterday.

Also yesterday, Justin's father, Stacy Bernal, pleaded not guilty in Toledo Municipal Court to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge filed Tuesday after police arrested him for acting disorderly and using abusive language in the Safety Building downtown.

Mr. Bernal was booked and released from the county jail after his arrest. His case was continued until Aug. 22.

Justin Bernal was a passenger in one of two cars on Chase Street when the shooting occurred early Saturday morning.

Eight to 10 males in the cars were looking for a large group of people, mostly juveniles, who allegedly ran on porches and stole bicycles, assaulted a 13-year-old boy for his bike, and taunted others in the area, investigators said.

When those in the car found those they believed responsible, words were exchanged between the two groups and one male among those on foot pulled out a handgun and fired a couple of rounds into the air.

As the car Justin was riding in was leaving, a shot came through the back window. The other four occupants, including two of Justin's siblings, ducked. Justin, who was turned and looking out the back window, was shot in the forehead, investigators said. He died later that day at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Investigators said young Jackson fired the rounds into the air and then shot at the car Justin was in. The teen told them he bought the handgun off the street.

On Monday, police issued an arrest warrant for young Jackson, who has a criminal history in juvenile court dating to August, 2000, when he was 11 years old.

Young Jackson has been found delinquent of eight offenses, including two felonies - attempted burglary in November, 2001, and attempted grand theft auto in December, 2002. He received stays on commitments in Ohio Department of Youth Services detention facilities on the felony convictions.

The other offenses, all misdemeanors, were unruly and public nuisance-type crimes. He is currently on probation for the felony convictions.

Funeral services for Justin will take place at 1:30 p.m. in David R. Jasin Funeral Home, 5300 North Summit St. Burial will follow in Toledo Memorial Park.

Contact Christina Hall at

chall@theblade.com

or 419-724-6007.