Background: Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. (Google Maps). Inset: Jackson T. Keller (La Plata County Sheriff”s Office).
A Colorado college student’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the Fort Lewis College community after authorities claimed he attempted to orchestrate a chilling plot to eliminate his dorm mate. Nineteen-year-old Jackson T. Keller was taken into custody and charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder, following an investigation led by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in collaboration with the Fort Lewis College Police Department.
The allegations surfaced when Keller reportedly sought to engage two separate individuals to carry out the murder of a fellow student, promising them a cash reward. This unsettling revelation was made public in a statement released by the investigative bureau.
Insight into the case emerged from an arrest affidavit, as reported by the Durango Herald. According to the document, fellow student Kobe McGill was one of the individuals Keller allegedly approached. McGill, who was once on friendly terms with the purported target, brought the matter to the attention of the police. It appears tensions between Keller and the intended victim, who shared a dorm and played on the college football team, had recently escalated.
The situation reached a tipping point on the night of January 28. McGill was present when Keller attempted to force his way into their shared dorm room. An ensuing confrontation led to an argument during which a television was knocked onto a video game console, although no damage was reported. The conflict escalated with Keller challenging his dorm mate to a fight, although he refrained from leaving his room.
Amidst the turmoil, McGill recounted to the authorities that Keller brandished a pair of scissors, threatening to stab anyone who attempted to enter his space to harm him. This was not the end of Keller’s alleged attempts to solicit violence. After the altercation, he reportedly propositioned McGill to commit the murder, suggesting a payment of $500. McGill declined, only for Keller to later retract the offer, indicating he might have another individual in mind for the task.
With tensions and violence escalating in this small college community, the authorities remain vigilant as they continue to unravel the details of this alarming case. The narrative serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and the importance of addressing conflicts before they spiral out of control.
According to the affidavit, McGill was present when Keller received a FaceTime call from three men from Colorado Springs who had firearms. McGill told police he watched as Keller asked the men if they would “put a hat” on the student for $500. After they agreed, McGill told police he saw Keller complete the transaction on Cash App.
McGill quickly told the student what he had allegedly just witnessed, and both students notified school officials, who then notified police.
When police questioned Keller, he denied the alleged plot and said authorities could take his phone after he spoke to his father. Police said that while Keller was in the interview room, cameras caught him “quickly moving through apps on his phone” as he spoke to his father. Keller’s father told his son to stop talking until they got an attorney.
Keller was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on college grounds. He posted $50,000 bail and was released from La Plata County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 23.
Local CBS affiliate KCNC reported that a mandatory protective order was filed against Keller, ordering him not to make contact with the student or go anywhere near him.
