Higgins Gets Life Without Parole for November 2023 Shooting
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, a McDowell County jury found Jeffrey Allen Higgins, 40, guilty of First-Degree Murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the Class A felony.
On November 9, 2023, McDowell County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting involving Higgins on Fairview Road in Marion. The victim, Jimmy Lee Cool, was shot by Higgins and died from his injuries.
Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan expressed gratitude for the work of the detectives and staff with MCSO, along with the help of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
“Once again, I am very proud of the commitment and hard work our team puts forth with their investigations,” said Buchanan. “A thank you as well to the SBI for their partnership, and to District Attorney Ted Bell and his team for doing an outstanding job in bringing this case to justice.”
