AP/Lang/Hunter
06/17/21
The 20-year-old Cedar Rapids man charged with killing his parents and younger sister told police a masked intruder was responsible for the homicides.
According to the criminal complaint, Alexander Jackson placed a 911 call at 8:23 Tuesday morning to report that he and his father had been shot by a male intruder at the Oak Leaf Court NE home. Arriving officers found three people dead from gunshot wounds in different rooms of the home. They were identified as 68-year-old Melissa Jackson, 61-year-old Jan Jackson, and 19-year-old Sabrina Jackson.
Alexander Jackson said that he woke to the sound of gunfire and suffered a gunshot wound to his foot in a struggle with the intruder. He was transported to UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment.
Investigators recovered a Browning .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle believed to be the weapon used in the shootings. Alexander told authorities that it was left on the fireplace after he and his father cleaned it the night before. Police found no evidence of a forced entry, and determined that the son had shot and killed his parents and sister.
Jackson denied shooting his family members, but told police that his father recently told him he needed to either get a job or get out of the residence.
Alexander Jackson is charged with three counts of First-Degree Murder. Sixth Judicial District Judge Casey Jones set bail at $3 million-$1 million for each charge. Cedar Rapids Police say the incident is the first triple homicide in nearly 40 years.
A vigil was held for Sabrina Jackson and her parents at Kennedy High Wednesday night; she and her brother previously attended the school.