SUPERIOR COURT
A young man who could be the poster child for the importance of taking care when choosing those in his company entered a guilty plea last week to 11 counts of aggravated assault due to the actions of an individual he drove to and from a Jones County recreation center.
Shakim Tyhiem Reeder entered his plea in Jones County Superior Court May 16. He was the second defendant who entered a guilty plea in a 2022 case involving a shooting incident at the Mattie Wells Gym on Highway 49.
The defendant was sentenced to 10 years each for 11 counts of aggravated assault. The counts will run concurrently for a total of 10 years with the first 180 days served in confinement in the Jones County jail. The remainder of his sentence is to be served on probation. Reeder was represented in the proceeding by defense attorney Carl Cansino, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Cara Fiore. Superior Court Judge Terry Massey accepted the plea and pronounced sentence.
Fiore styled the case for the court. She said the shooting occurred Dec. 20, 2022, during a basketball game. The prosecutor said two individuals had guns, but they still have not been identified.
Reeder was the driver of the car that brought the shooters to the gym.
Cansino said those facts were not in dispute, and his client was prepared to enter a guilty plea. He said Reeder had been living with his brother and going to school. He said a group of guys wanted to play basketball and decided to go the Mattie Wells gym, which was a nearby recreation center.
The attorney said there was an altercation between two people, and one thought his ‘stuff’ was missing.
“Shakim was driving, and one of his passengers started shooting,” he said.
Cansino said the passenger was dropped off, and Reeder and his car were identified using cameras at the recreation center. The attorney noted that his client was an honor student when at Jones County High School.
He said he set up a meeting at his office with Reeder and Jones County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Crystal Murphy. Cansino said Reeder did not know the identity of the shooters. He said since this client had been released on bond, he has earned an associate’s degree and graduated with a 3.6 GPA.
“This is a good kid. He has absolutely no record, and he was known at school because he was a good student,” the attorney said.
Cansino said the negotiated plea is the best route for Reeder, even though he did not know what was going on.
The defense called three witnesses to testify to the defendant’s character and also submitted several character reference letters to the court.
Reeder also spoke on his own behalf.
“I’ve learned you can’t just hang around with anybody. I met those guys through a friend,” he said.
The defendant said he has been working and going to school while he has been out on bond.
“I’ve cooperated as much as I can; I don’t know the shooter’s name,” he said.
Reeder said probation would not be a problem but asked not to have to spend time in jail.
Massey told the defendant he needed to be sure not to hang out with bad people, and he asked Reeder if he would test dirty if drug tested today.
The defendant admitted he had been using a THC pen.
Sentence
Fiore asked for the same sentence for Reeder as his codefendant Tyshun A. Gilmore received when he entered his plea in February. That was a total of 10 years with the first year served in the Jones County jail.
“Mr. Reeder was the driver. He should get the same sentence,” she said.
Cansino said he sees they could be considered equally culpable, but he pointed out that Reeder cooperated immediately and has worked and gone to school.
“That’s a testament to his character,” he said.
The attorney said Gilmore’s bond was revoked because he continued to get into trouble.
Cansino said Reeder was aware of the seriousness of the crimes and said, if he found out the name of the shooter, would report it.
“Probation will not be a problem for him,” the attorney said.
“You will never see me in court again,” Reeder added.
Massey asked Reeder to stand during sentencing.
“Not often have I seen such support, and I realize you have a bright future. You have done what you can to correct the situation, but these are very serious charges,” he said.
The judge said the court needed to send a message that shootings would not be tolerated.
“For that reason, the sentence has to carry jail time,” he said.
Massey sentenced Reeder to 10 years on probation with the first six months in jail. He also ordered 100 hours of community service, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment.
In addition, the judge added the requirement of the defendant’s participation in a mentoring program for two years.
The defendant was immediately taken into custody after the sentencing.
Incident report
The Dec. 20, 2022, report by Jones County Deputy Zachary Allen stated he was dispatched to the Mattie Wells gym in reference to gunshots heard outside of the building. Allen said, when he arrived, he noticed a large group of males standing at the entrance of the gym.
The deputy said he approached the group and asked what happened. He said he was told that someone began shooting at the gym from the outside. After talking to them further, the consensus was it was possibly a white minivan with three black males inside.
The deputy said he requested additional units, and Deputies Alya Morris, Matthew Johnson, Sgt. Kasey Carr and Investigator Barron Hall arrived at the scene.
Allen said one of the witnesses told him a large group of the males were playing basketball inside the gym when one went to his backpack and started talking about his stuff that was missing. He said the male went outside and came back in making threats, while showing that he had a gun in his pants. The male continued to ask where his stuff was. He then went outside, and the crowd followed.
The witness said the male was near the outside basketball court, and he started shooting in the air and yelling. The witness said two other males got into the white minivan, started down the driveway and began shooting at the gym before leaving the area.
Allen said, while speaking to the victims who were in the gym, it was evident that the “stuff” was a pistol that was missing from his bag. He said no one at the gym knew the three males, but he was given descriptions.
It was reported the males were in their late teens or early 20s, one light skinned with a fire neck tattoo. The deputy said people at the gym were asked who could have taken the gun from the bag. He said he was told there was a male there who could have taken the gun because he left in a hurry.
Allen said nine .40 caliber shell casings were in the driveway of the gym, and two projectiles were located inside the gym with multiple fragments scattered around the gym. He said photos were taken of the evidence, including bullet holes in the side of the building and tire tracks leaving the gym.
JCSO Investigator Capt. Kenny Allen said in a Jan. 6, 2023, text that one individual had been identified by Investigator Crystal Murphy and warrants had been taken.
