Gulfport man gets life sentence after pleading guilty to murdering wife

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) - A Gulfport judge sentenced Jerome Jefferson, 49, to serve life in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Jefferson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Friday for killing his wife.

According to reports, Gulfport police were called to a pediatric clinic in the Orange Grove area after several calls reported that someone had been shot around 4 p.m. on August 7,2017. When police arrived at the scene, they found the victim behind the clinic suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of her head. Two pediatricians were treating the victim.

Even though the victim had been shot in the head, police say she was still able to tell doctors and the police Jefferson had shot her. She was airlifted to a hospital in Mobile where she survived for 3 days. On August 10, 2017, she died as a result of the gunshot wound to the head.

Jerome Jefferson (Photo source: DA's Office)

During the investigation, police say they located several witnesses who were at a nearby restaurant. The witnesses said they looked up to see Jefferson raise a gun and shoot the victim. Video surveillance was also located at a nearby business that showed Jefferson sitting in his car for several minutes before walking toward the clinic then driving away afterwards, according to police.

“Witnesses also informed investigators that the victim had recently left the defendant, and that the defendant had called the victim several times that day prior to showing up at clinic”, said Assistant DA Matthew Burrell who prosecuted the case.

Also, police received Jefferson’s phone, and after obtaining a search warrant, discovered a text that was sent to one of their children before the shooting that stated, “it’s all over for me and your mother”.

Jefferson turned himself in to police and confessed to shooting his wife, police say.

At the plea, Jefferson told the judge that he and the victim were arguing when he shot her in the back of the head.

During sentencing, the victim’s sister told the court about the victim’s love for her 3 children and the victim worked 2 jobs to support her family. The victim’s oldest son also spoke to the court. He told the court Jefferson would leave the family for days at a time when times became difficult, leading the victim to leave the defendant days before she was killed.

“This was a senseless crime of domestic violence where this defendant took away a loving mother from her children and family. Our prayers continue to be with this family and hope that the conviction and sentence can somehow assist in the healing process”, said District Attorney Smith.