More than a year after a Macomb County father was tragically struck and killed by a stray bullet, his longtime companion says she is still in shock over the incident.

Jamyre Thompson, 20, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced Friday to 10 to 15 years in prison for manslaughter, with no credit for time served, according to a news release from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

In April, Thompson was convicted in the shooting death of Mark Jackson, 53, of New Baltimore, who was visiting family in the area.

“My daughter…we’re all still in shock over this,” his companion of 37 years, Kerrie Retell, said Monday.

Authorities said the shooting happened April 9, 2024, at Interfaith Homes in Kalamazoo. Thompson fired multiple rounds at an occupied vehicle that was parked in the complex, and then ran away from the scene.

An investigation showed one of the gunshots, which police initially described as a “random stray” bullet, ricocheted off an apartment wall behind the vehicle, striking Jackson who was visiting his daughter at the time, according to family and police.

Jackson was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“We were sitting on the porch and Mark went into the house,” Retell said. “I didn’t have any idea the bullet went through the wall. I walked in the house and there’s Mark on the floor dead.

“It really was a freak kind of thing.”

Police took Thompson into custody following a foot chase, according to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Along his “escape route,” police said they found the gun that was used in the shooting.

Thompson did apologize to the victim’s family for his actions, according to Retell. She said she can accept the apology, but added he must be held accountable.

“I understand that he is a young kid, but he had intentions of harming somebody,” she said. “It was an unfortunate accident, but he left his house with those intentions. If he hadn’t done that, Mark would still be here today.”

Jackson, who had turned 53 that previous February, was employed as a mechanic at a Mount Clemens garage. Relatives described him as a loving man with a good sense of humor and an outgoing personality.

Retell, who currently resides in Warren, said he was “the life of any party.”

According to his obituary notice, Jackson is survived by his daughters, Alicia (Jacob) Todd, Kasandra Hunt and Britnee Hunt; siblings Ed (Jennifer) Jackson and Tracy (Brent) Lowell; and grandchildren, Angela, Lillyanna, Javier, Ash, Isabella and Archer.

Thompson will also serve additional time in prison for two counts of felony firearm: two years per count, to be served concurrently to each other but consecutively to other sentences. He also received a sentence of 13 months to two years for resisting and obstructing a police officer, which will run concurrently with the manslaughter sentence.

Thompson was also ordered to pay more than $7,700 in restitution and court costs, according to the release.