Man sentenced in 2021 shooting death of off-duty NOPD officer and his friend in Houston

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — One of the three men accused in the shooting death of an off-duty New Orleans Police Department officer and his friend has pleaded guilty in a Texas court.

The Harris County District Attorney’s Office reported 22-year-old Frederick D. Jackson pleaded guilty to killing Everett Briscoe and Dyrin Riculfy during an attempted robbery at an upscale restaurant in Houston in 2021.

On Aug. 21, 2021, Briscoe and Riculfy were sitting on the patio of the restaurant when two people with guns approached the group the two were dining with and demanded their property.

Witnesses of the crime said everyone complied with the suspects but one of the men began to shoot anyway.

“This was a well-trained police officer from a major city who was just minding his own business and enjoying time off with friends on vacation,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. “It is an absolute tragedy, and it shows that anyone, anywhere can be the victim of a violent crime.”

WATCH: Funeral of fallen NOPD Officer Everett Briscoe

Briscoe and Riculfy were in Texas for a weekend getaway with other members of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

Ogg said Jackson was scheduled to stand trial but instead agreed to a plea deal on Tuesday, May 14, accepting a sentence of 60 years in prison.

According to Ogg, Jackson can’t appeal the convictions and has to serve at least 30 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

Jackson will appear in court in the following weeks to hear victim impact statements from the victims’ families.

“We wanted him to admit guilt for both murders and go to prison for the equivalent of a life sentence, and this accomplishes both of those goals,” said Assistant District Attorney Keaton Forcht. “It was important to the families of the victims that he takes responsibility.”

24-year-old Anthony Rayshard Jenkins and 21-year-old Khalil Nelson are still awaiting trial.