Man arrested in slaying of SF Public Works employee

A 26-year-old man was arrested in the shooting death of a San Francisco Public Works Department employee, who was struck by gunfire as he painted over graffiti, officials said Thursday.

Michael Higginbotham was booked at the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder at 4:15 a.m. Thursday after his arrest overnight in Vallejo. Police have yet to disclose a motive.

Jermaine Jackson Jr., a 27-year-old father of two young children, was removing graffiti Wednesday morning near 25th and Vermont streets in the city when a gunman opened fire before driving away. Paramedics rushed him to nearby San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was killed Wednesday morning as he cleaned graffiti as part of his Public Works Department apprenticeship. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was killed Wednesday morning as he cleaned graffiti as part of his Public Works Department apprenticeship. Photo: San Francisco Public Works Department Photo: San Francisco Public Works Department Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Man arrested in slaying of SF Public Works employee 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

“That’s real good they got him. Real good, especially so soon,” said one of Jackson’s cousins, who gave her name as Sheree B.

She said that Higginbotham has a violent reputation in the neighborhood. “That means no more shootings or killings,” she said of his arrest.

Jackson began as an apprentice in the city department in March 2015 and was going to graduate from the program next year.

Stunned relatives said that Jackson had dropped off his 7-year-old daughter, Jayla, at school shortly before he was killed.

“He said, ‘I love you, let me give you a kiss. I’ll see you later,’” said Jayla Jackson. “My dad’s an angel.”

Family and friends said that Jackson turned his life around when he became a father, earning his GED and participating in an antiviolence program through Mayor Ed Lee’s office. He was known in the neighborhood to host barbecues and play pickup basketball.

Jackson had some run-ins with gang members seven or eight years ago, but all of that was long over, family said. Rumors he was still caught up in that life were false, his cousin Sheree said. She pointed to the fact that young men from various groups and associations poured in and out of his family’s home Wednesday to pay their respects.

“Jermaine was my heart,” said mother-in-law, Pamela Plousha, 60. “I loved him no matter what, and we’ll miss him no matter what.”

In a statement, Lee said he called Jackson’s family Wednesday afternoon to offer his condolences and ordered the city’s flags to be flown at half-staff until Thursday at sundown.

Higginbotham is set to be arraigned Friday afternoon.

Michael Bodley and Kimberly Veklerov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley. @kveklerov