UPDATE: Iquane Brown charged with murder in death of Sammy Jackson
Atlanta Police Department (APD) says 30-year-old Iquane Brown is now charged with murder in connection to the January death of Sammy Jackson.
Sammy Jackson (Family)
UPDATE (2/3/25): Atlanta Police Department (APD) says 30-year-old Iquane Brown is now charged with murder in connection to the January death of Sammy Jackson.
According to an update from Atlanta Police on Monday, Brown is charged with murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, hijacking of a motor vehicle, kidnapping, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Brown is being held at the Houston County Jail on unrelated charges out of Warner Robins, including armed robbery, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and multiple firearm-related offenses. Jail records show a new no-bond warrant from Fulton County was added to his record on Monday.
Jackson’s arrangements were announced on Monday.
Visitation will be held on Friday, February 7 from 4-7 p.m. (Central time) at Wright Funeral Home and Crematory, located at 15579 US Hwy 431 South, Headland, AL 36345.
The funeral service will take place on Saturday, February 8, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. (Central time) at the Headland High School Gymnasium, located on Sporman St, Headland, AL 36345.
Jackson’s wife, Jill, said a candlelight vigil will be held in Jackson’s memory on Wednesday, February 5 in Byron. The vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Harvest Church, located at 3322 US-41 N, Byron, GA 31008.
“We will gather in love and remembrance, sharing prayers, memories, and light as we celebrate a life whose presence will forever be missed,” she wrote. “We also want to invite all rideshare drivers to participate so that we can pray for your continued safety. Your service to our community is deeply appreciated, and we want to cover you in prayer as we honor Sammy. Your love and support mean the world to us during this difficult time.”
UPDATE (1/31/25): – The Atlanta Police Department (APD) has identified 30-year-old Iquane Brown as a person of interest in the case of former Fort Valley State basketball coach and Bibb County School District employee Sammy Jackson.
According to a news release, Brown was the person who ordered the rideshare in Houston County. He is currently in custody at the Houston County Jail on an unrelated robbery charge out of Warner Robins, APD said.
Houston County jail records show Brown was arrested on January 28, one day before Jackson’s body was found in Atlanta. His charges include armed robbery, theft by receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during certain crimes. He is being held without bond. Brown also has a warrant from Cobb County.
State prison records list a person with the same first and last name, Iquane Brown, but with a slightly different spelling of the middle name. Records show this person was released from Ware State Prison in November 2024 and had previously served time for escaping from the Macon Transitional Center and for multiple convictions in metro Atlanta dating back to 2012. Authorities have not confirmed whether this is the same person currently in custody in Houston County.
41NBC has reached out to law enforcement for more details on Brown’s possible connection to Jackson’s case.
UPDATE (1/30/25): The Atlanta Police Department (APD) issued a news release Thursday regarding a homicide investigation at 2994 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW.
According to APD, officers responded to the scene on Wednesday after being notified by the Houston County Sheriff’s Office about a possible deceased person in the area.
Police canvassed the area and found a male victim who appeared to have died from gunshot wounds.
The department noted the victim had been reported missing by his family, but the release did not include a name.
41NBC has reached out to APD for confirmation.
UPDATE (1/29/25):
ATLANTA (41NBC/WMGT) – Former Fort Valley State University coach Sammy Jackson has been found dead, according to his family.
Jackson was reported missing on Monday after last being seen Sunday night at Dollar General on Russell Parkway in Warner Robins while working his second job as an Uber driver. His family had shared images on social media of him at the store and of his vehicle, which family said was later located, but he remained missing until Wednesday afternoon.
Peach County Coroner Kerry Rooks confirmed to 41NBC that Jackson was found dead “in the Atlanta area” on Wednesday afternoon. He said he had no further details.
41NBC reached out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for more information and was directed to the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Prior to Jackson being found, multiple attempts to get information from the Houston County and Peach County sheriff’s offices resulted in no answers.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has now provided 41NBC an official incident report. According to the report, Jackson’s silver 2018 BMW 540i was found at 305 Ashwood Drive in Bonaire. His wife, Jill Jackson, told investigators she last spoke to him Sunday night when he was at a Buc-ee’s gas station on Russell Parkway, preparing to start his Uber Eats shift. She received a final text from him at 2:15 a.m. Monday, asking, “do you know my social security number?”
Deputies located his vehicle through BMW’s tracking system and found it parked outside an apartment complex. The car was unlocked, and investigators found Jackson’s ID and personal belongings inside, along with two bottles of hand sanitizer.
Investigators have not yet confirmed a cause of death. Jackson’s sister, Barbara Jackson, made a Facebook post that implied her brother was shot and killed:
Rest Easy Big Brother
“Sammy Jackson, an Alabama native, took the men’s basketball head coaching job at Fort Valley State University in 2011 and led the Wildcats until resigning in 2018, citing “critical family issues.”
“Coach Jackson has made a profound impact on a countless number of young men during his years of service at FVSU,” Fort Valley State University’s Vice President for Advancement and Interim Athletics Director Anthony Holloman said in 2018. “We are extremely appreciative of all that he has done for the university, including two trips to the SIAC conference finals in the past four years. We look forward to building upon our winning tradition through innovative programming as we bring new coaching leadership aboard focused on excellence in athletics, academics, and character.”
Jackson was also an educator in the Bibb County School District, according to Superintendent Dr. Dan A. Sims. In a comment on 41NBC’s Facebook post about Jackson’s death, Sims described him as “one of our beloved educators” and offered condolences.
According to social media posts, Jackson worked as a coach at Howard Middle School in Macon. Howard Middle School’s website lists a “Coach Jackson” among its basketball coaching staff, though it does not include a full name. 41NBC has reached out to the Bibb County School District to confirm his title.
Prior to his time at FVSU, he spent eight years as an assistant coach at Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama. He was an assistant coach at the University of Alabama (2002-2003) and served as head coach at Savannah State University from 1999-2000. He also served as assistant coach at Georgia Southern University from 1995-1999 and at Tennessee State University in 1994-95.
This is a developing story. Stay with 41NBC for updates.
