Activist faces judge on alleged attack

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Community Activist Darnell Jackson faces a judge Friday, during a felony hearing. The former community activist is accused of pointing a loaded gun at a man holding his one-year-old son.

But Darnell Jackson says he was the one who was attacked.

The alleged victim, 24-year-old Brandon Barker told Buffalo Police that he went to Jackson's home on Barthel Street to collect money for repairing a bike. Barker says Jackson wouldn't pay him.

Instead, he says Jackson punched him repeatedly while his son was strapped to his chest. Later, Barker told police Jackson pointed a shotgun at him and threatened to kill him.

But the former community activist says he didn't owe him any money, but instead says Barker tried to borrow it. Jackson's lawyer says the real problem started when Barker let his son play and repeatedly fall in water.

Jackson’s lawyer Earl Key said, “Mr. Jackson said that's not proper to just let your child be sitting there soaking wet. You need to attend to your child. He became irate that Mr. Jackson was trying to tell him how to parent and he began to attack Mr. Jackson.”

Alleged victim Brandon Barker said, “He told me to come over and get the money. But when I got over there my son walked into the sprinklers. He got mad that my son walked into the sprinklers and it was already hot. It was 8:30 in the morning and it was 85 degrees. My son walked through the sprinklers and he started cussing at me. It led into this altercation. And he punched me in my mouth while I had my son attached to me.”

Jackson is charged with reckless endangerment, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.

Jackson's case was adjourned today because police need to do more investigating.