Southern Illinois University Student From Chicago, Keeshanna Jackson, Shot And Killed In Carbondale
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago student at Southern Illinois University is dead, after a shooting in downstate Carbondale.
Keeshanna Jackson was one of four people hit by gunfire early Sunday morning in the 500 block of West Cherry Street in Carbondale. She died at the scene.
Police said there were multiple shooters. The other three victims – Jyrin Blair, 29, of Marino; Raheem Sylas, 24, of Murphysboro, and a juvenile victim from Marion – were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, but Jackson didn't make it.
CBS 2's Asal Rezaei talked with the victim's older half-sister on Monday about the devastating loss. Kaszha Jackson said Keeshanna was just starting college and had gotten to the SIU campus on Monday of last week. Kaszha Jackson can't believe her baby sister is gone.
"I just wish I could just help her, just hold her. I wish I was there to stop it from happening," Kaszha Jackson said. "I wish I could have just pushed her. I wish I could have took the bullet for her. I just love her so much."
While police continue the investigation, Kaszha Jackson said her family still doesn't know much about what happened.
"A couple of events are still kind of vague - we don't really know much," she said. "But right now, we're just hoping that the Carbondale community could please come forward."
Kaszha Jackson said the last time she talked to her little sister: "I told her be careful, I said, 'Don't be going to all those parties and stuff thinking you're grown,' because it's just, ugh! Watching your little sister grow up - who wants to see their sister grow up?"
She said Keeshanna was thriving in the nail industry, had already built a client base in Chicago, and was going to school to get her business degree and learn how to grow her business.
"Just a very special person – just very loving, and to know her was to love her. Everybody loved her. So many different strangers that just loved her - so many people on campus who was just blessed to meet her for a week that loved her," Kaszha Jackson said. "Everything is just devastating."
On Monday, university chancellor Austin Lane said in a statement:
"We are heartbroken to lose a member of the Saluki family and extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends. Carbondale Police Department notified us of the incident about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, and we are assisting CPD as it carries out its investigation. We understand this comes as a shock to many of our students. If they are feeling anxious or have other mental health concerns, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to help them. Our counselors in residence were also available on Sunday afternoon and evening in Baldwin Hall and Grinnell Hall for immediate walk-in appointments. As we mourn this loss in our community, we will keep the student's family and friends in our thoughts."
Police were still looking for the shooters late Monday.
Anyone who attended the party where the shooting happened is asked to call Carbondale police at (618) 549-2121, SIU police at (618) 453-3771, or the Carbondale SIU/Crime Stoppers tip line(618) 549-COPS, where callers can remain anonymous.
The Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS is also available for callers to remain anonymous.
