The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office announces that a jury has convicted Joetavius Jackson of first-degree murder with a firearm after a three-day trial.

It was the first murder trial held since State Attorney Alexcia Cox took office on Jan. 7.

After the verdict, Circuit Judge Cymonie Rowe immediately sentenced Jackson, 39, to the mandatory punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The judge also found the defendant guilty of a second count of felon in possession of a firearm.

We extend our thanks to the Riviera Beach Police detectives who investigated this homicide in the Azure Estates community, which happened on Oct. 17, 2022.

Assistant State Attorneys Jo Wilensky and Courtney Behar prosecuted the case and obtained justice for the 22-year-old victim.