One charged with the murder of Keeshanna Jackson

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – Wednesday authorities in Carbondale announce a major break in the murder of an SIU student. Keeshanna Jackson was a young lady with a long life ahead of her. Her family says she wanted to study business with a dream of owning her own nail salon. 

Her mother, Arielle White, says she had a beautiful dream, and a beautiful spirit, and her life was cut too short.

“It is heartbreaking,” said White. 

In the early morning hours of August, 22 2021, Keeshanna was gunned down on Carbondale’s Cherry Street. 

Jackson was one of four people hit by a spray of bullets. She was found wounded in the yard near the location of a party and later died at the hospital.

White says life as she knew it changed forever the day she lost her little girl. 

“I’m not here,” she said. “I just I go to work every day, I work 2-3 jobs just to keep my mind off of stuff.”

She says she’s long held a message for her daughter’s killer. 

“Put the gun down because you are breaking a lot of people’s hearts,” she said. 

Now she and others who held Keeshanna dear may get the chance to deliver that message. 

Wednesday morning after nearly three years of searching for clues, offering rewards, and bringing the community together through candlelight vigils, authorities announced a huge break in the case. Prosecutors announced they are formally charging 22-year-old Keavonte Nesby with two counts of first degree murder.

Jackson county states attorney Joe Cervantez says they believe Nesby was among two rival groups fighting at the time. 

“Multiple people involved with those groups have been arrested since the shooting,” said Cervantez. 

Cervantez says he believes Nesby is the one who fired the deadly shot killing Keeshanna. 

“In cases as serious as these there’s usually a lot of evidence we use and they tend to be complex,” he said. “Whenever you have a complex case you’re going to have a lot of evidence.”

As for a motive, he says it will likely come out in the investigation, and the reasons are often trivial.

“We want to make sure we send a message that whenever this happens to one or our community members or students at the university that we take action as quickly as possible and let parents know this is a safe place to raise their kids,” said Cervantez. 

SIU president Dan Mahony also says new developments in this case have sent a wave of relief across campus. 

“It has been something on a lot of people’s minds, not knowing who was responsible,” said Mahony.  

He says campus police worked with local and state police, prosecutors and the FBI to bring those involved in gun violence in this case and others to justice. He says his heart breaks for the family.

“We hope this brings a little relief from all that they’ve been dealing with but we know it never can replace her,” he said. 

Now Keeshanna’s mother and aunt say they often dream of the successful young woman she might have become today.

“Anything she could put her mind to she could do, outgoing self motivated,” recalls aunt, KeChell White. 

To investigators, the family wants to say ‘thank you.’

“It is just a big difference for us to actually get justice versus going on and on wondering if the murderer is out there,” said KeChell. 

“Still a long way to go,” said Arielle White. 

Nesby is due back in court September 14. 

He was previously sent to the Department of Corrections for an unrelated shooting.