A Gwinnett County man whose drug trafficking may have led to his teenage son’s killing was sentenced to eight years in federal prison Thursday.

Nicholas Jackson Sr., of Norcross, was sentenced to 97 months after pleading guilty in February to distributing cocaine.

Federal prosecutors contend Jackson was a drug dealer whose reputation on the street put his family in jeopardy. That reputation led to rumors in drug circles that about $1 million in cash and 50 kilos of cocaine were stashed in Jackson’s home.

On the night of Feb. 2, 2012, six would-be robbers kicked in the basement door of Jackson’s home, hoping to steal the cash and drugs thought to be hidden inside the house, according to police. Inside, they found 15-year-old Nicholas Jr. playing a video game, and the assailants chased the teen into a bedroom.

As he struggled to keep them out, a gunman blindly fired six shots into the door, striking him once in the chest, according to the police incident report. The high school freshman died at the hospital. Seven men have been charged with killing Nicholas Jr.

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