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Saline County Circuit Judge Josh Farmer sentenced an East End man to 40 years for the fatal road rage shooting of another driver.
Read the details below.
Jayeson Lee Ashley pleaded guilty and will serve 40 years in prison. He is currently 21 years old.
Prosecuting Attorney Chris Walton announced that Jayeson Lee Ashley, age 21, entered guilty pleas to two counts of Terroristic Act, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison followed by 10 years of suspended imposition of sentence. Ashley entered the pleas prior to his jury trial that would have been April 22-23, 2025 before Judge Farmer.
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Nearly one year ago, on April 20, 2024, Mr. Ashley fired a gun into a truck occupied by Ian Milligan and Nicholas French on Arch Street in East End. A bullet struck Milligan in the head and neck resulting in his death. French was not injured.
Ashley fled the scene of the shooting and later asked his cousin, Ceara Force, to cover for him. Force pled guilty to hindering apprehension or prosecution in October 2024. Within a few hours of the shooting, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) apprehended Mr. Ashley.
The subject originally claimed he was acting in self-defense following a road rage incident with Milligan and French. However, Mr. French stated that Ashley got out of his truck and threw his hands up in the air at Milligan and French. As they drove around Ashley, the gunman fired the weapon at them. Ashley returned to his truck, chased Milligan and French, and continued firing.
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At Monday’s hearings, the families of both Milligan and French appeared before Circuit Judge Josh Farmer to express their feelings on the loss of Milligan and their difficulties over the last year.
Walton thanked the work of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, particularly Det. Jennifer Tarvin. “She and her coworkers’ efforts resulted in the arrest and lengthy prison sentence of Ashley. Our community is safer because of their work on this case.”
Scroll down to read the full police report details at the end.
POLICE REPORT —
Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigation Division:
CASE SUMMARY by Det. Jennifer R. Tarvin #2649 – INCIDENT # 2024-1106
On 04/20/2024 at approximately 2159, Deputy Walls, responded to the 20000 block of Arch Street for a shooting. Dispatch initially advised that a caller was reported his friend in his vehicle had been shot and they were traveling north on Arch Street.
While in route, Deputies was instructed by Sgt. Preator to block off Arch Street in front of Dollar General. Deputy Lesher and Deputy Walls, secured the scene on arch street and placed crime scene tape across both sections of the road. Deputy Walls was instructed by CID to retrieve any video footage from the Dollar General. Deputy Walls met with the manager at dollar general and retrieved external video footage from the parking lot, that faced Arch Street. The video footage is added to this report.
After clearing the scene at Dollar General, Deputies arrived on scene at 4409 Lorance Dr. Deputies were instructed by CID detectives to provide scene security until further direction. Deputy Walls was instructed by CID and Sgt. Preator to deploy the department’s UAV around the residence, as well as the Meadows Acres subdivision on Meadows Acres Dr to attempt to locate the suspect, which was identified as Jayeson Ashley (W/M 01/28/2004). negative results on the UAV inferred camera at all locations.
Deputies were instructed to hold rear permitter security at 4409 Lorance Dr. until SRT could arrive. Deputy Walls was notified by Sgt Preator that the suspect was not at the residence but in the area walking and was to deploy the UAV from Sanders Hardware to attempt to locate him.
Deputy Walls deployed the UAV with me (Det. Tarvin) and was able to locate a person walking on Forester Dr. I notified all deputies of the person walking, who was later identified as the suspect and was taken into custody by SCSO deputies.
On 4/20/2024 I, Det. Jennifer Tarvin, was dispatched to a shooting that occurred on Arch St. Upon my arrival I was informed the victim (Ian Milligan) had been transported to UAMS. Det. Grogan was called and asked to go to the hospital to check on the victim’s condition.
Patrol Deputies placed crime scene tape where the shooting occurred and started a crime scene log. Myself and Lt. Hawthorn photographed and collected evidence (3 spent shell casings) from the scene. I was informed the victim’s truck was towed to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office evidence bay to be processed.
A search warrant was obtained for this vehicle so we could process it. The driver of the white truck (French) was taken to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed.
The suspect (Jayeson Ashley) was located after a long search and transported to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed. His truck was towed to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office holding area where a search warrant was obtained.
I read Jayeson Ashley his Miranda Rights and he stated he understood, and signed the rights form and agreed to answer questions. Ashley stated a white truck came up behind him on Arch street after he pulled out from Sawmill.
Ashley stated he stopped in the middle of the roadway and got out of his truck and put his hand in the air and said “What the Fuck”. He said he was ready to fight the person in the truck because he had been tapped in the rear end of his truck.
He said the white truck came around his truck and a bottle was thrown at him, at that time Ashley stated he pulled his gun from his front waistband and shot at the truck.
I asked Ashley if he knew who was in the truck and he stated no, he had never seen that truck before and didn’t know who was in it.
Nicholas French was the driver of the white truck. I spoke with him and asked what happened. French stated he pulled out behind the blue truck and the truck stopped in the middle of the road.
French stated the driver of the blue truck got out of the truck, threw his hands in the air and was in the roadway. French said as he was driving around the blue truck the driver pulled out a gun and started shooting. French said his passenger, lan Milligan, was hit and French called 911 and drove off.
French advised the driver of the blue truck (Ashley) started chasing him and shooting at him. French stated while he was on 911 he told them the truck was chasing him and still shooting.
French stated when he saw Sgt. Preator, he pulled into the Phillips 66 at Atwood and that’s when Ashley turned down Mail Route Rd.
Upon executing the search warrant on French’s vehicle, there were multiple gunshots to the truck. From the back and on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Two rounds struck the front windshield by the driver.
One round penetrated the windshield and the other round hit the windshield and fell into the driver’s seat. Evidence was collected from the truck belonging to the victim.
Det. Hudson, Det. Grogan, and Det. Fee executed the search warrant on the suspect vehicle (Blue Truck). All evidence was photographed and logged.
