Parkway Shooter Sentenced to Life in Prison

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Updated: 7:58 PM Jun 9, 2011 Parkway Shooter Sentenced to Life in Prison Ralph Leon Jackson has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 35 years for the shooting death of WNRN radio deejay Tim Davis and wounding Fluvanna County student Christina Floyd in April 2010 along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Posted: 2:42 PM Jun 9, 2011 Email Address: news@newsplex.com

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June 9, 2011

Ralph Leon Jackson will spend the rest of his life in jail.

The Stuarts Draft man was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 35 years on Thursday for murdering WNRN deejay Tim Davis and wounding Fluvanna County student Christina Floyd in April 2010.

Jackson, 57, pleaded guilty in March to the shootings along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Augusta County. He admitted to one court of assaulting Floyd with the intent to commit murder and one count of the premeditated murder of Davis by shooting him with a firearm, among other minor weapons charges.

United States Attorney Timothy Heaphy said following the plea hearing that Jackson would receive a mandatory life sentence for the murder as part of the agreement, however his office decided not to seek the death penalty.

"Mr. Jackson committed a heinous and violent crime that took the life of one young person much too early and changed the life of another forever,” Heaphy said. “His admission of guilt in federal court ensures he will be justly punished for his crimes by spending the rest of his life inside a federal prison.”

Jackson opened fire on Davis, a 27-year-old Charlottesville radio deejay, and Floyd, 18, on April 5, 2010 as they sat on a wall at the Rock Point Overlook. Davis tumbled 150 off the overlook after being struck. He died five days later.

The convicted killer continued firing, hitting Floyd. After placing his gun down, he began throwing rocks at her, causing two skull fractures and a broken finger. Ultimately, Floyd was able to flee the scene and was picked up by a passing motorist and taken to safety.

Jackson originally pleaded not guilty to charges related to the shooting. His attorneys also filed a motion claiming that he was impaired by male enhancement drugs at the time of the shooting.

Latest Comments

Posted by: SuzieQ Location: Va on Jun 9, 2011 at 06:48 PM

He's right where he belongs!
I wonder if he has anything to do with the unsolved crimes in other Va Parks.
He's creepy!

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