A shocking allegation has rocked a Colorado college campus after a teenage student was arrested in what authorities describe as a murder-for-hire plot targeting a fellow classmate.
According to officials, 19-year-old Jackson T. Keller, a student at Fort Lewis College in Durango, was arrested Thursday, Jan. 29, and charged with criminal solicitation for first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on college grounds. The charges were announced by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Keller was taken into custody by the Fort Lewis College Police Department with assistance from the CBI following an investigation into allegations that he attempted to arrange the killing of another student.
Investigators say the case began Wednesday, Jan. 28, when authorities uncovered evidence suggesting Keller allegedly tried to persuade two separate individuals to carry out the murder in exchange for cash. Details about the intended victim and how the alleged plot was discovered have not been publicly released.
After his arrest, Keller was released from custody after posting $50,000 bail, according to online court records. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 23.
It remains unclear whether Keller has retained legal counsel to speak on his behalf, and officials have not disclosed whether additional charges could be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
The case has sent shockwaves through the campus community, raising concerns about safety and the disturbing nature of the allegations involving such a young suspect.
No critical thinking skills and wasting time in a college