Louisville man escapes while jurors deliberate in attempted murder trial that ended in hung jury

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville defendant on trial for attempted murder in connection with a shooting that left a man in critical condition in 2021 escaped Thursday while the jury was deliberating his verdict.

Had he waited for the decision, Vernon Jackson would have been able to go home.

After four hours of deliberation, the jury couldn't come to a unanimous decision and the judge declared a mistrial.

Jackson, who was on home incarceration, was allowed to leave during the deliberations but then cut off his HIP bracelet and escaped, Sheriff's Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Carl Yates said.

"If he had come back, he would have been free," Yates said. "Now he's guilty of escape."

Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Annie O'Connell issued a warrant for his arrest.

Jackson was on trial for charges of attempted murder, assault and being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

The trial started Tuesday and the jury began deliberations about 3 p.m. Thursday.

"This is a new situation I've never encountered," Jackson's attorney Casey McCall said in court upon learning his client had escaped, according to a video of the trial.

"Nor have I, I'll be honest," Judge O'Connell replied.

Erran Huber, a spokesman for the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, said prosecutors will retry Jackson on the original charges as well as charges involving his escape.

"This was a big surprise for the prosecutors, this was a big surprise for the circuit judge," said Huber. "This is certainly an unusual set of circumstances and nobody in our office can remember this happening before."

In an interview, McCall said, "I'm disappointed he wasn't there for the decision."

McCall said he would have argued that Jackson be taken off of home interaction given the prosecution couldn't get a conviction.

Once arrested, his bond will be set at $250,000. Jackson had paid a $35,000 bond to get released on home incarceration.

The ankle monitor was recovered but Jackson has not been found.

On April 9, 2021, Jackson was at a gentlemen's club at 3608 Seventh Street Road and had just paid to get in when there was a shooting in another part of the club, causing the business to immediately close.

Police have said he became upset because he had just paid to get in and the employee working the door offered to repay Jackson from his own pocket because Jackson's money had been placed in a locked drop box, but "Jackson was still angry."

That's when Jackson "came at" the employee who ran from the business to a nearby gas station with Jackson chasing him, according to police. The employee then began running along Berry Boulevard, as Jackson got into a car and continued chasing him.

As the man ran between two buildings, police say Jackson got out of the car and again demanded his money before pulling a gun and shooting the victim "several times in the abdomen and extremities" before leaving the scene.

The victim was taken to University Hospital in critical condition with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video from the gas station with the victim, who was able to identify Jackson as the person who shot him, according to police.

Jackson has pleaded not guilty.

This story may be updated.

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