Man featured on “America’s Most Wanted” concerning fatal shootout with police at New Bedford McDonald’s granted parole with conditions

A man who was featured on a popular tv show concerning a Bristol County shootout has been granted parole with conditions.

According to the Parole Board, Kevin Jackmon and Demarco Traynum robbed a McDonald’s in New Bedford on April 26, 1998. The men ordered the patrons and employees into a back office within the McDonald’s at gunpoint. More than a dozen employees and customers were confined in the office. The men instructed an employee to bind the hands of some of the others confined in the office. Jackmon and Traynum forced two other employees to empty the money from a safe and the cash registers. The employees were ordered to put the money into a canvas sack. Two police officers arrived at McDonald’s, which interrupted the ongoing robbery. The confrontation between the police and both Jackmon and Traynum escalated into a shootout. While exchanging gunfire with police, Jackmon accidentally shot Traynum, resulting in his death. To escape from McDonald’s, Jackmon used two women as human shields to prevent the police from firing at him. Jackmon put the two women in headlocks and continued to fire at the police as he fled with the women. Jackmon left the two women in a New York City hotel room after the robbery. Nearly two months after the robbery, a photograph of Jackmon aired on an episode of “America’s Most Wanted” and he was subsequently arrested in North Carolina. 

Jackmon was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Traynum, by a jury in Bristol Superior Court, on November 24, 1999. The murder charge was the most serious of the 41-count indictment. The jury convicted Jackmon of 36 counts of the indictment. In addition to second-degree murder, the jury found Jackmon guilty of 16 counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of kidnapping, armed robbery while masked, use of a firearm while committing a felony, and 14 counts of stealing by confining or putting in fear. 

Jackmon was sentenced to multiple consecutive terms of imprisonment. He was sentenced to serve 9-10 years for kidnapping (2 counts, served concurrently). After service of 9-10 years, Jackmon was sentenced to four concurrent terms of 4-5 years (two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon,3 unlawful possession of a firearm without a license, and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony). After serving both the 9-10 years and 4-5 years, Jackmon began serving 16 life sentences for the following convictions: 2nd degree murder, 14 counts of stealing by confining or putting in fear, and armed robbery while masked. The 16 life sentences were ordered to run concurrent to each other and allowed for the possibility of parole after 15 years.

When determining parole eligibility for an incarcerated person serving consecutive sentences, the Board aggregates the minimum parole eligibility dates for each component sentence to determine a single parole eligibility date. 120 Code Mass. Regs. § 200.08 (2). Jackmon attained parole eligibility after 28 years in prison less earned good time applied to his non-life sentences. 

The Board stated in granting parole that Jackmon made his initial appearance before the Board after having been incarcerated for 24 years. He indicated to the Board that rehabilitative programming has played an important role in his incarceration. He completed approximately 60 programs. Jackmon has been employed in the Companion Program for over 10 years. He enrolled in courses through Massasoit Community College with an anticipated graduation date of Spring 2025. Jackmon specifically requested that any release date allow him to first graduate in Spring 2025 with an Associate’s Degree. Jackmon has a limited disciplinary history and is low risk on the LS/CMI assessment tool. The Board considered the opposition testimony of the victim’s family. 

Conditions of parole include: CRJ for 90 days; Report to assigned MA Parole Office on day of release; Waive work for two weeks; Electronic monitoring for six months; Supervise for drugs with testing in accordance with Agency policy; Supervise for liquor abstinence with testing in accordance with Agency policy; No contact with victim(s)’ family; Must have mental health counseling for adjustment.