Convicted murderer found guilty of threatening to ‘light up’ Midlothian workplace

WAXAHACHIE – Jamison Whitaker, 44, of Dallas, was convicted of terroristic threat and sentenced to 40 years in prison on Oct. 23.

Ellis County and District Attorney Ann Montgomery stated in a news release, “On Nov. 18, 2022, Whitaker arrived to work at Liberty Tire Recycling with an AM-15, an AR-style rifle.”

The firearm was equipped with armor piercing rounds capable of piercing through body armor. Whitaker called over a couple of his coworkers and told them he was going to “light this place up.” 

He told them he would give them a 30-second warning before he started firing so they could get out of the way.

Whitaker’s conduct had been escalating. 

Two days prior to his threat, Whitaker confronted another coworker over perceived disrespect, and a supervisor had to intervene. 

On the 17th, Whitaker threatened the same supervisor, telling him, “I got something for you,” while making a gun with his fingers. 

One of the coworkers Whitaker showed the firearm to on Nov. 18 witnessed both prior altercations, and he was concerned that Whitaker would follow through with his plan and place the 60-plus people working at Liberty Tire Recycling’s warehouse at risk.

The coworker reported Whitaker to management, who swiftly contacted police. 

Midlothian police officers safely detained Whitaker. 

One of the management members retrieved the AM-15 from Whitaker’s vehicle and turned it over to law enforcement.

Whitaker is a convicted felon who went to prison for five years for assault of a public servant in 2000. 

In 2011, Whitaker pled guilty to murder in Dallas County and was sentence to 10 years in prison. 

Due to his criminal history, Whitaker’s punishment range on the Ellis County terroristic threat was 25-99 years or life in prison.

“Thanks to the employees of Liberty Tire Recycling who spoke up, the offense Whitaker was convicted of was felony terroristic threat, and not something far worse,” stated Montgomery after the sentencing. 

“This is a reminder to the community to not take these types of threats lightly, and to contact law enforcement if they occur.”

Assistant County and District Attorneys Hope Sumrow and Kalina Vincent prosecuted this case, assisted by County and District Attorney Investigators Todd Woodruff and Luis Hinojosa.