Man gets 40 years for shootings that killed son of 'Lizard Lick Towing' TV star, paralyzed his friend in 2022

A Garner man was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison for the Feb. 17, 2022, shootings of Alex Shirley, 21, from Clayton, and his friend, Sophie Hagy.

Following a two-week trial, Nathan Jackson, 18, was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and two counts of felony discharging a firearm into a vehicle inflicting serious injury, among other charges.

The prison sentence for first-degree murder is life without parole, but since Jackson was 16 when he committed the crimes, he must serve 40 years in prison before he is eligible for parole, according to the Johnston County Attorney's Office.

Alex Shirley was killed on Josephine Road in Johnston County in 2022 after attending a memorial balloon release for his friend, who had died in a car crash. Detectives discovered Alex Shirley's body in a car parked at a Sheetz.

Alex Shirley was sitting in the backseat of the car's driver's side on Feb. 17 when gang members approached the car and fired 20 shots, killing Alex and striking Hagy, who was sitting next to Alex, according to a statement from the clerk of courts. Hagy survived, but two gunshot wounds to the back left her paralyzed from the waist down.

WRAL News on Wednesday spoke to the families of both victims, who have been listening to the trial play out for weeks at the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield.

After Wednesday's sentencing, Kristi Lee, Alex Shirley's mother, told WRAL News it's been a very emotional three years, and now she feels some relief.

"I felt a lot of relief," Lee said. "It's not closure ... you don't get closure when you have to bury your child and see the gruesome things that we saw."

Lee said Alex Shirley is missed every day.

"It has actually decimated my world," she said. "I still say goodnight to an empty bedroom. I text his cell phone. The dogs still go into his room looking for him every day.”

Jeanne Hagy, Sophie's mom, was also relieved with the court’s decision.

“Committing crimes in a split second is not worth it because people’s lives are changed forever," Jeanne Hagy said.

Ronnie Shirley Jr., Alex’s father, starred on the show "Lizard Lick Towing." He and his wife Amy told WRAL News they are doing what they can to move forward.

“If I leave this courthouse and this trial with anything else, I want people to know that you have to learn to forgive no matter what, and you have to learn to love no matter how hard," Ronnie Shirley said.

Four people were charged in the 2022 shooting, including Jackson and his co-defendant, another teenager. Two others were charged with accessory and obstructing justice related to the shooting investigation.

Detectives are still looking for a fifth person involved.

The families told WRAL News they will continue to show up in court as each case unfolds.