A Virginia judge said Jacob “Alex” Meadows, following a plea hearing last week, smirked at the family of a high schooler he fatally shot in 2018 — and for that, the judge on Monday revoked Meadows' bond, held him in contempt of court, and ordered Meadows jailed until his October sentencing, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
Meadows, 23, pleaded guilty July 11 to manslaughter and drug charges for the shooting death of Ocean Lakes High School student Christopher Ross during a drug deal, the paper said, adding that prosecutors in exchange agreed to drop murder and gun charges against Meadows and promised to seek no more than a seven-year prison term.
However, Circuit Court Judge Steven Frucci determined Meadows smirked at and moved toward Ross' family after last week's plea hearing, the Virginian-Pilot reported, which angered the judge.
\u201cJacob Meadows found guilty of contempt, bond revoked, jailed until sentencing https://t.co/AnZCN0QZZp\u201d— WTKR News 3 (@WTKR News 3) 1658163701
Christopher Ross’ older brother Robert testified that after the hearing, he and other family members were outside the courtroom when they saw Meadows passing by them in the hallway, the paper reported.
Ross said Meadows smirked as he approached, the Virginian-Pilot reported, adding that Ross was upset and accused Meadows of ”walking up” on him. Ross’ family members then grabbed Ross and pulled him away, the paper said.
Meadows — who'd been out on bond for the last two-and-a-half years and had been allowed to remain free until sentencing — testified Monday he was happy when he left the courtroom but said it was because he could go home to be with his daughter, the paper reported. Meadows also said he didn’t intend to show any disrespect toward the Ross family, the paper added.
Frucci said courthouse hallway video shows Meadows did smirk and move toward Ross after last week's hearing, the Virginian-Pilot said, adding that the judge also called Meadows' actions “abhorrent” and “calculated.”
Frucci also told prosecutors they’d “have a hard time getting me to accept the [plea] deal" and recused himself from presiding over Meadows’ sentencing, the paper reported.
The Virginian-Pilot said Frucci presided over the plea deal hearing but added the deal wasn't accepted at that time — and the new sentencing judge could reject it.
Christopher Ross on Dec. 11, 2018, went to Virginia Beach residence to buy a quarter-pound of marijuana for $400 from a teen who lived there, the paper said. Meadows supplied the marijuana to the teen and was present when Christopher Ross arrived, the paper said.
Ross lifted his shirt to display a gun tucked in his waistband, grabbed the marijuana, and ran, the paper said. Meadows, also armed, chased Ross and fired several shots, the paper said, adding that Ross was struck five times and died at the scene.
A security officer contracted by the U.S. Marshal Service was wounded in a drive-by shooting Tuesday while guarding the Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse in downtown Phoenix.
The officer was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening, and a manhunt was launched to find the gunman. A suspect was apprehended within hours.
The Phoenix Police Department sent out an alert that there was a shooting outside the courthouse and that non-life threatening injuries were sustained. The department provided a picture of the vehicle authorities are searching for in connection with the shooting.
BREAKING: Shooting outside 401 W. Washington, near the Federal Courthouse. Non-life threatening injuries. #PhxPD… https://t.co/irlzSkdAxK— Phoenix Police (@Phoenix Police)1600197690.0
Brahm Resnik of KPNX-TV reported a short time later that "US Marshal David Gonzales confirms to #12News that [a] courthouse security guard was hit in his bulletproof vest & he will be OK."
He added that the FBI is "now handling investigation of shooting of federal employee."
UPDATE US Marshal David Gonzales confirms to #12News that courthouse security guard was hit in his bulletproof ves… https://t.co/h6owhg7LEs— BrahmResnik (@BrahmResnik)1600199637.0
Resnik reported that the FBI announced a suspect was arrested three hours after the 11:30 a.m. drive-by shooting. He noted that the security officer's "bulletproof vest saved him," and that the wounded officer had "returned fire after he was shot."
BREAKING @FBIPhoenix reports suspect arrested 3 hours after drive-by shooting of security officer Tuesday outside f… https://t.co/hqAnr1GPVW— BrahmResnik (@BrahmResnik)1600204895.0
KNXV-TV reported that "FBI spokeswoman Jill McCabe said an individual has been detained in connection with the incident, and it remains an ongoing investigation for their office. She went on to say, 'there is no information to suggest there is a continued threat to public safety.'"
The FBI is urging anyone with information on the assault to contact Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.
Some initial reports claimed that the wounded security officer was actually a U.S. marshal, but KTAR-TV clarified that the victim was actually contracted through the U.S. Marshal Service to guard the federal courthouse.
The shooting of the officer in Phoenix comes just days after two Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies were both hospitalized in critical condition after being ambushed while sitting in their patrol vehicle in Compton. The suspect in that shooting also remains at large, and is described as a black male around 28 to 30 years old.
The department is offering a $100,000 reward for information on the shooting, and private donors have put up another $75,000. Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Judge Brian Morris sparked scrutiny after speaking at a U.S. General Services Administration event advancing Biden's 'sustainability goals.'
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