Death Classification: Line of Duty Death
Agency: Chicago Police Department
Served: 22 years, 0 months, 24 days
Unit of Assignment / Detail: 11th District - Harrison
District of Incident (Present Day): 025 - Grand Central
Cause of Death: Gunfire - Friendly (Accidental)
Age at Time of Death: 52
Timeline
Date of Birth: 01 Nov 1950
Date of Appointment: 18 May 1981
Date of Incident: 11 Jun 2003
End of Watch: 11 Jun 2003
Date of Interment:
Interment Details
Cemetery: Woodlawn Cemetery - Forest Park, Illinois
Grave Location: Unknown
Interment Disposition: Cremated
Memorial Details
Superintendent’s Honored Star Case:
Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 2
Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall:
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall:
Officer Down Memorial Page: Not Listed
Service
Military Service: Unknown
Incident & Biographic Details
Police Officer Roberto Donna Jackson, Star #9578, aged 52 years, was a 22 year, 0 month, 24 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 11th District – Harrison.
On June 11, 2003, at 10:06 a.m., Officer Jackson was off duty and searching the neighborhood for her son, James M. Hargrett, age 26. James had left the family house earlier in the morning and was in a suicidal state. James sister, Dakia Hargett, was also out searching for James and found him sitting on a bus stop bench at North Avenue and Mobile Avenue. She pulled over in her car and called a long time friend of her brother, Steven C. Robinson, age 24, of 1745 North Merrimac Avenue, to come and help her calm James down. When Steven arrived, he observed James leaning into the widow of Dakia’s car crying. He walked up and asked James what was up. James replied, “it’s over“ and when Steven tried to hold his hand James pushed him away mumbling things about ‘Jesus.’ Both Dakia and Steven continued to try and calm James down, but their efforts were not working. James then said, “I’m going to do it now.“ James then made a quick motion to dart in front of an oncoming truck traveling Westbound on North Avenue. Dakia and Steven grabbed him and pulled him back onto the sidewalk. James then pulled awy and started walking hastily northbound on Mobile Avenue. Approximately a third way down the block James saw his mother and continued walking toward her. At 1621 North Mobile Avenue Officer Jackson spotted a UZI Eagle semiautomatic pistol in her son’s pocket and gave him a bear hug from behind in an attempt to subdue him. Officer Jackson had then held James down against the hood of Dakia’s car which Steven had driven down the street. Dakia ran up and tried to help her mother hold James down. Tragically, James was able to reached for the gun and shot himself in the chest yelling, “I did it!“ However, the bullet intended to kill him, traveled through him and into his mother. Responding officers arrived almost immediately after the shot was fired. Officer Jackson was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital by CFD Ambulance #23 where she was pronounced dead on arrival by Dr. Holvart at 11:50 a.m. on June 11, 2003. James was transported to Stroger Hospital of Cook County by CFD Ambulance #52 where he was treated for a punctured left lung and eventually made a full recovery.
James Hargrett was later charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon.
Officer Jackson was waked at Joseph R. Jones Funeral Home located at 5515 West Chicago Avenue, her funeral mass was held on June 17, 2003 at New Life Christian Fellowship Church located at 6235 West North Avenue, was cremated, and entombed in Woodlawn Cemetery, 7750 Cermak Road, Forest Park, Illinois.
Police Officer Roberto Donna Jackson, born November 1, 1950, received her Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department in May 18, 1981. She earned 7 Honorable Mentions during her career.
Officer Jackson was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. She was survived by her children: Dakia Hargrett and James Hargrett; step-children: Darren and Dwayne; mother, Marcy; siblings: Anita, Ellen, Marcella, Robert and Romando and grandson, James. She was preceded in death by her father, robert.
Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #HJ421698.