Judge Denies Venue Change Motion For Ex-Stamford Cop's Case: Report

STAMFORD, CT — A Milford judge denied a motion Tuesday to move the case of an ex-Stamford police officer charged in connection with the death of a beloved local pastor in 2023, according to the Stamford Advocate.

In March of this year, Zachary Lockwood, 25, pleaded not guilty to misconduct with a motor vehicle in the crash that killed the Rev. Tommie Jackson on Wire Mill Road in Stamford in July of 2023.

Lockwood's case was moved from Stamford to Milford to prevent potential conflicts of interest.

Darnell D. Crosland, who is representing Jackson's family, motioned for another venue change to Bridgeport, the Advocate said, noting that Crosland has argued that a fair trial would not be possible in Milford due to a lack of racial diversity, and that traveling to Bridgeport would be more convenient for Jackson's family.

On July 26, 2023, at approximately 4:20 p.m., Lockwood struck Jackson with his patrol car while responding to a separate call, police said. Jackson had just retrieved his mail and was attempting to cross Wire Mill Road.

A member of the SPD since April 2022, Lockwood was placed on administrative after the incident, and he turned himself in on an arrest warrant in February of this year. He was fired from the Stamford Police Department in August.

Jackson was a beloved member of the community and a pastor at Rehoboth Fellowship Church in Stamford, and previously at Faith Tabernacle Church. He was also the assistant director of the Stamford Urban Redevelopment Commission, an agency created in 1954 that handles municipal development projects.

Lockwood is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27 when State’s Attorney Margaret Kelley is expected to make a plea offer, Crosland said, according to the Advocate.

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