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Wilmington man pleads guilty to second-degree murder in 2022 shooting

A 20-year-old recently pleaded guilty in New Hanover County Superior Court to first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.

Judge Kent Harrell sentenced Damon Stackhouse of Wilmington to a minimum of 27 years and a maximum of just over 34 years in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, according to a news release from District Attorney Ben David's office.

On September 22, 2022, at around 3 p.m., Jailin Tilghman-Deablo was shot 16 times by three people outside the New Hanover Village Apartments on Buckingham Avenue, the press release states. Deablo died of his injuries later that same day.

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Investigators were able to match a getaway vehicle to co-defendant Ja'Tayvian Hanible and later found the vehicle at co-defendant Jaquan Smith's home on Ann Street in Wilmington, the press release said. Inside the home, investigators found Stackhouse and the other co-defendants.

Inside the home, detectives found three firearms that were ballistically linked to the shooting. One of them contained DNA that belonged to Stackhouse, the press release said.

According to the press release, the shooting is believed to be retaliation for a gang shooting that occurred earlier that day in which a gang member of defendant Aiwon Davis was shot and injured near the intersection of South 14th and Ann Streets.

The murder trials against co-defendants Labron Pryor, Jaquan Smith and Ja'Tayvian Hanible are still pending.

“While this case is nothing short of a tragedy, it serves as a reminder that there is no place for gun violence among youth in our community. My condolences go out to Mr. Tilghman-Deablo, his family members and all those affected by gun violence,” Assistant District Attorney Michael Chaney said in the press release.

District Attorney Ben David expressed hope that with the opening of the Community Justice Center, shootings of this kind would become less common because more resources would be available to curb youth violence.

“This case is another example of the continued hard work and dedication our officers, detectives and support staff put in every day at WPD. No mother should have to bury her child and we will stop at nothing to ensure justice is served in this murder case,” Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams said in the release. “Removing firearms from the hands of violent criminals and our youth is a top priority for our department. Our prayers continue to be with Mr. Tilghman-Deablo's family members as they continue to mourn his passing.”

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