Lawton teen sentenced to 15 years for 2021 slaying of boy

Following a sentencing hearing Wednesday, a 17-year-old Lawton man who pleaded guilty in 2022 for causing the shooting death of a 12-year-old boy was sentenced to serve prison time as an adult.

Prayeon Jackson was sentenced by Comanche County Chief Presiding Judge Emmit Tayloe to a 20-year prison sentence with five years suspended and 15 to serve, records indicate. He has been serving under the Office of Juvenile Affairs since September 2022.

Jackson pleaded guilty in April 2022 to a felony count of first-degree manslaughter as a youthful offender to the July 19, 2021, shooting death of Erick Berry. Jackson was 14 at the time of the incident.

Under Oklahoma law, the first-degree manslaughter charge allows Jackson to be sentenced as an adult due to the nature of the charge.

With his plea, Jackson admitted to playing with a handgun at Summit Ridge Apartments, 6921 W. Gore, on July 19, 2021, according to the probable cause affidavit. The bullet struck Berry in the head and he died the next day at an Oklahoma City hospital.

Jackson will receive credit for time served, including under the Office of Juvenile Affairs. He will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before consideration for parole. He remains in custody of the Comanche County Detention Center, as of Thursday.