College should be a time of fun and freedom when students can discover who they are and what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Jackson T. Keller, 19, picked up his life in Tampa, Florida, and headed to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, to play football. The freshman linebacker loved being in the mountains, and his college life seemed happy. But in late January, police arrested Keller, accused of hiring hitmen to murder a teammate. It’s a strange story that could have had a much simpler solution.
According to court documents obtained by the Durango Herald, Keller allegedly began to have issues with former friend and teammate Marcus Dylke. The pair reportedly lived in dorm rooms connected by a shared bathroom. As the friendship waned, Dylke began locking his bedroom door to keep Keller out. Things got particularly strange on January 28.
Dylke told investigators that he and another student, Kobe McGill, were in his room that day when they noticed someone fidgeting with the doorknob from inside the bathroom, per the Herald. Dylke and McGill confronted Keller, who initially denied trying to enter the room. He ultimately confessed, and Dylke admitted he “became upset,” court documents noted. He then said he kicked Keller’s TV and PlayStation but did not damage them. The pair never got into a physical fight.
McGill reportedly told investigators Keller asked him to “put a hat on him,” which he interpreted to mean killing Dylke. The teen offered him $500 via CashApp if he completed the job. Keller allegedly took back the offer a short time later and told McGill he had someone else to “do it,” the Herald reported. McGill said Keller then called three men on FaceTime, asking them to “put a hat on” Dylke. He then claimed he watched Keller send $500 to the men.
McGill left the room and told Dylke what he had seen, and the pair contacted campus housing staff, who then called police. According to court documents, when police questioned Keller, he denied hiring anyone to kill Dylke and agreed to let police look at his phone, but wanted to call his father first, per the Herald. Police reportedly saw him on security footage talking to his father and quickly moving through the phone’s apps. He declined to speak any further without a lawyer.
Police arrested Keller on January 29, and he quickly posted a $50,000 bond, CBS Colorado reported. He’s due in court on February 23.
A spokesperson for Fort Lewis College Officials released a statement to CBS Colorado about the allegations.
“The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a top priority at Fort Lewis College. The Fort Lewis College Police Department acted quickly and in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of our students and our campus,” the spokesperson shared. “FLC’s prompt response demonstrates the strength of our campus safety protocols and partnerships. We remain committed to transparency, due process, and providing a safe learning environment for our community.”
We understand that sometimes, friendships fizzle, but we’ve never attempted to put a hit on a former pal. Perhaps a move to a different dorm would have been a better place to start.
