Crime prevention activist's brother murdered

For years, the South San Francisco resident invested time into crime prevention and promoting education in the crime-prone area where he grew up. Violence continued despite his efforts.

Not even 30 minutes later, Goodman learned it was his brother, Johnny Jackson, who was killed. He was devastated.

"After dedicating my life to trying to help others, no matter what, I was not able to help my brother. I get a sense of helplessness. It was a senseless crime,” he said.

At approximately 3:18 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, Goodman’s brother was shot in the head while inside a car in front of 1178 Turk St., said San Francisco police Sgt. Neville Gittens. A woman, who was also in the car, was shot and sustained life-threatening injuries. She is in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital. There are no suspects.

Jackson, 38, spent most of his life in and out of jail. The day before he was killed he called Goodman with wonderful news. He was starting a job training program. He also had a new cell phone. It was like he had a new outlook on life, said Goodman. Jackson was finally starting to get his life on the right track.

"Uncle Johnny was very caring and loving to everyone he met. He was truly one of a kind. ... He was known by everyone,” said his niece Angelica Goodman.

Known as Hollywood on the local music scene, Jackson sang with other rappers on CDs and demos. He was supposed to be in the studio Monday night. He left around 2 a.m. on Tuesday morning and headed to his Western Addition home, said Goodman.

Jackson was the oldest of five children, including 33-year-old Goodman, Benjamin Goodman, Gentry Goodman and Senay Franklin. The children grew up in the Western Addition. Creola Ford, their grandmother, raised the children after their mother, Bertha Lee Goodman died 25 years ago.

Goodman, a candidate for the South San Francisco Unified School Board of Trustees, began working on crime prevention in the neighborhood in 2003 after Ford was almost accidentally shot. It was called the Martin Luther King Marcus Garvey Crime Prevention Program for the government subsidized housing in two square blocks around Eddy Street. Activities were started for the youth on the weekends. After nine months, there was a decline in crimes.

Goodman made it his priority to try to make things better. As he returned to his grandmother’s house Wednesday night to retrieve some clothing, however, he saw the rift which still remains between the community and the police force.

"Over 90 percent of the community is not creating crimes. We need to be focusing on empowering the community to encourage them to take the community back. It’s almost like there’s a mentality in the community. They don’t trust the police but who else are you supposed to turn to? The police are trying to do their job and no one wants to snitch and help out. It’s a two-edged sword,” he said.

Goodman and his family hope Jackson’s death won’t go unnoticed. They are advocating for real solutions and leadership for an area that needs help and trust. If nothing else, the family hopes Jackson doesn’t become a homicide statistic.

"He wasn’t just a nameless person. ... He was a caring person, but he was just stuck. It was hard,” said Goodman. "He was dealt some cards in his life. He never once decided to fold. He always fought to try to get a winning hand. And when he finally did, it was his time to go.”

A fund was started to help pay for services. Any additional money will be donated to a victims fund. Donations can be made to the Johnny Jackson Memorial Fund at the San Mateo Credit Union. The bank has three locations on the Peninsula. For more information visit www.smc.org.

A wake will be held at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, 275 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco on Thursday, Aug. 24. Services will be the following day. Times have yet to be set. For more information call 73-3550.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.<