Jackson T. Keller, a 19-year-old Fort Lewis College student and football player, was arrested on January 29, 2026, for allegedly trying to hire someone to murder his dorm mate and teammate after a dorm dispute. He faces felony charges of criminal solicitation to commit first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on college grounds.
Incident Details
The conflict arose when Keller and his target, who shared a dorm bathroom, argued after the target locked his door and knocked over Keller’s TV during a confrontation on January 28. Keller then approached fellow student Kobe McGill, offering $500 to “put a hat on him” (slang for killing), which McGill refused; Keller then FaceTimed three men from Colorado Springs, paid via Cash App, but McGill alerted authorities. Police observed Keller deleting apps on his phone during an interview after he denied the plot.
Legal Status
Keller posted $50,000 bail and was released from La Plata County Jail. A mandatory protection order bars him from contacting the victim. As of February 4, 2026, no recent hearings for Keller appear in La Plata County dockets, with his next scheduled date originally February 23 per initial reports. Authorities confirm no ongoing campus threat.
