WILMINGTON — A Wilmington man was sentenced up to 27-and-a-half years in prison after found guilty for multiple charges, including attempted murder.
A jury convicted Jabar Ballard after a four-day trial, of:
- Attempted murder
- Discharging a weapon into an occupied building
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
The crimes took place in a busy strip mall on November 30, 2021. According to the state’s evidence, Ballard fired 11 shots at a man in a parking lot at the City Tobacco and Vape shop, 3111 Market Street, after the two engaged in an argument. The victim got away unscathed at first, but Ballard chased him into an adjacent parking lot, as people arrived for Sunday-night service at Vino Nuevo Ministry.
Congregation members heard gunfire and helped the victim find refuge inside the building. According to the state, “Ballard forced the door to the church open and fired another round at the victim before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.”
The victim was struck once in the chest and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Jurors viewed footage from surveillance cameras as part of the trial.
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