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MURDERER GETS LIFE PLUS SENTENCE

Joseph I. Cassilly, States Attorney for Harford County, announced the sentence received by Damon Jackson, Havre De Grace, Maryland, today for his participation in the murder of the victim, Alan Zurita, Havre De Grace, Maryland.

On April 1, 2008, the Maryland State Police discovered the body of Alan Zurita on the shoulder of southbound I-95 prior to the Route 24 exit. Zurita had a single gunshot wound to his chest and later died from his injuries at the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

Jackson was indicted for the murder and the case was tried before a jury on January 26, 2009. The jury returned a guilty verdict on February 2, 2009 for 1^st degree murder, armed robbery, robbery, use of a handgun in the commission of a murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a robbery. The case was tried by Deputy States Attorney Scott Lewis.

Jackson was sentenced by Judge Thomas Marshal to life in prison for 1^st degree murder and a consecutive 15 years for the use of a handgun in the commission of a murder. The remaining counts were merged into the murder count or the other handgun count.

The States Attorney commended the Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriffs Office, Havre De Grace Police Department and the Prince Georges County Sheriffs Office for their hard work and cooperation in conducting the investigation that resulted in the arrest of Jackson