Jason Barnum, an American criminal, became somewhat of an international phenomenon in 2012. The 37-year-old approached the courtroom with a tattoo covering the white of his right eye, earning him the nickname “Eyeball,” as he pleaded guilty to shooting a police officer in Anchorage, Alaska.
Barnum’s history was marred by erratic behavior, and he eventually received the punishment he deserved. However, he unwittingly became an internet sensation.
As Jason began serving his lengthy sentence, another perplexing rumor emerged around the world. According to an advertisement, his father was one of the most well-known American performers. The truth has now been disclosed.
Jason Barnum had led a bad life for many years before it eventually caught up with him in September 2012.
Barnum was sleeping in an Anchorage motel when the cops broke into his room and he fired his rifle. As a result, he injured a police officer, suffered injuries himself, and was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison. However, it was his tattooed eyeball that made him renowned.
So, let’s look at what happened. Who is Jason Barnum, known as “Eyeball”?
Three Anchorage police officers investigated car break-ins and burglaries on September 12, 2012. At a news conference, Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew stated that the burglaries typically occurred when people were at home. During their investigation, the officers discovered a vehicle linked to the crimes in a parking lot near a hotel.
The cops saw something strange on the hotel video camera, which showed a man taking some things from the van into room 209. After discovering a stolen gun, cops handcuffed a man inside. In the bathroom, cops heard a woman making “retching sounds,” as if she was sick.
The authorities asked her to leave the restroom, but she wasn’t alone. According to authorities, Jason Barnum was behind her and began firing a gun as she exited from the bathroom.
Officer Dan Thyen, a 15-and-a-half-year member of the police force at the time, was shot by Barnum. He was hit in the back, but his injuries were not life threatening.
The policeman stormed out of the hotel room, shooting back at Barnum, and soon several other cops joined in. The cops removed the hotel’s guests. SWAT police were on the site not long after.
Officers spoke to Jason Barnum through the door, according to Police Chief Mark Mew. He surrendered not long after. During a press conference, he claimed Barnum was a heroin user who had signs of drug use after the incident.
“Someone just blasting away from behind a door, that’s unusual,” Mew said. “And, of course they responded in kind, rather quickly.”
He earned the nickname “Eyeball” after having his right eyeball tattooed black. Jason Barnum was handcuffed, led out of his hotel room, and placed on a stretcher to be transferred to the hospital. He had been shot in the right arm, but after a quick trip to the...
