Mackenzie Stafford
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – On July 3, just after 10 p.m., a patrol deputy with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) saw a car in the middle of South Highway 85, according to arrest records. Investigators say the driver, Eddie Jackson, told deputies his car was out of gas. The two passengers got out and helped to push the car to the side of the road while Jackson stayed in the driver’s seat, according to sheriff’s deputies. The deputy took down the car’s plate and noted that the three people in the car all seemed cordial.
Later that night, just before 11 p.m., EPSO dispatch received a call that disconnected. Deputies were sent to the area where the call came from, and they called back the number that had initially called 911. Arrest records say the person who answered was winded and said someone had tried to rob them.
After that, deputies say a second caller contacted EPSO dispatch, saying that his son, Eddie Jackson, had called him, saying he was running and had to get out of there. This led deputies to go back to where they initially contacted Jackson on South Highway 85.
When deputies arrived, arrest records say they found the same car in the same place; however, this time Jackson was gone, and the two other passengers were dead inside.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Highway 85/87 reopens Friday after overnight closure for deadly shooting investigation
In arrest records, the deputy notes that the victims both had apparent gunshot wounds and that there were fired shell casings on the ground.
Deputies got a search warrant and searched the car, where they found multiple boxes of ammunition in the driver’s side door, the trunk and the driver’s floorboard, according to the arrest affidavit. Under one of the boxes of ammunition, deputies say they found Jackson’s ID.
Later, EPSO says Jackson called them. They say he explained meeting the two guys at a Subway and that they asked him to drive them around. Jackson told deputies he agreed and that the two wanted him to pull up on one of their friends, but Jackson’s car ran out of gas. Soon after, Jackson told deputies that he was being followed by his passengers’ friends.
In arrest records, deputies said that Eddie Jackson told them the two passengers were talking about wanting to hurt him and that they started reaching for their waist and he thought they were grabbing guns, so he shot them both. Jackson stated he never saw any firearms on the two passengers, according to deputies. EPSO also noted that one of the passengers was sagging their pants in a way that a gun would have been noticeable.
Sheriff’s deputies pressed Jackson, asking him why he did not mention his fears of being followed or hurt by the two victims when his car had initially run out of gas and a deputy came to help. Jackson replied to deputies, telling them he was trying to talk his way out of it and didn’t want to get his passengers in trouble, according to arrest records.
In the arrest records, they note that Jackson continued to change his story, even adding that he gave one of the deputies a “look” to indicate needing help when they assisted with his car in the middle of the road. He also told deputies that he wanted to do drugs, and that’s what they were doing in the car. EPSO confirmed they found whip-its and cocaine in Jackson’s car.
Jackson told deputies he left the scene, went to his apartment, and got an Uber to the Denver International Airport (DIA). Deputies note in the arrest record that Jackson told them he was coming back to Colorado Springs to talk with deputies, but he did not show up.
23-year-old Eddie LaCharles Jackson, courtesy of EPSO.
Jackson was arrested at DIA. He now faces 2 counts of murder in the second degree and is being held in the El Paso County jail.
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One of the victims in the shooting was a 25-year-old man, who has not been identified by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office as of Tuesday night, and the other was a 16-year-old boy, Kaegan Wellman.
KRDO13 spoke with Wellman’s family, who are still grappling with the fact that their little boy, brother and best friend is gone.
“I’m mad, very angry. My son shouldn’t have been taken away from me. We should be watching him graduate, get married and have kids. Not like this,” said Wellman’s mother, Cindi Sharp.
They say that Wellman was the most kindhearted, selfless individual who was always making others laugh. They say he was caring for all those around him, including animals.
“He was silly. He was goofy. He likes everybody to laugh. He liked to get under people’s skin just to make us laugh,” shared Sharp.
Sharp tells KRDO13 that when Wellman didn’t come home Thursday night, she knew something was wrong. She said she didn’t get the call until Saturday. When she heard what happened, she told KRDO13 it was hard to believe.
Wellman’s family says they didn’t know the suspect, Eddie Jackson, and if anything, their son only knew him for a few hours.
“He took advantage of two young boys and their kindness and their disabilities,” said Sharp, “he was very trusting, too trusting, you know, his brain worked a little bit differently.”
Sharp shared that her son had a brain injury as a baby. They say he’d grown up to be such a kind young man.
“He would leave work and give his tips to the guy on the corner, you know? He would go to his barber and get his haircut, tip him, like, $25 just because you liked the way you cut his hair,” explained Sharp.
They say so many people have been reaching out to them, explaining how Kaegan Wellman touched their lives.
A photo of Kaegan Wellman, courtesy of his family.
“I’ve gotten messages from teachers from elementary school and his daycare when he was a baby. You know, telling me they remember his hugs. He gave the best little hugs,” said Sharp.
KRDO13 asked them about the suspect’s claims that he wanted to do drugs in the car with Wellman and the other victim, and they said that wasn’t their son and that it didn’t add up.
They say Wellman was a hard-working kid who cared so deeply about those around him.
“He was 16. I’m 24. So it’s kind of a big age gap. But just growing up with him, he was super goofy and always smiley. Definitely got on my nerves multiple times, but just a super caring and loving person for everyone, including animals. Always had to have an animal,” explained Wellman’s older brother, Brandon Carr.
Carr says he’s still trying to come to terms with losing his little brother.
“It still just doesn’t feel real. Like, I’m kind of waiting for him to come home, but knowing that he’s not going to. So it’s still it’s been almost a week, but it’s still super tough and it doesn’t feel real,” said Carr.
One of Wellman’s best friends, Damacio Montoya, shared a similar sentiment.
“I’ve been waking up in the mornings waiting for that text. Just hoping out, like all of it was a dream,” shared Montoya.
He said that he and Wellman have been friends for a long time. Montoya said Wellman’s mom actually asked him to mentor Wellman, and the rest is history.
“When we first met, we just kind of clicked. We have so many similarities,” said Montoya.
Montoya shared that if he was ever in a bad mood, Wellman would always cheer him up. He said Wellman was a character who always made him laugh and that he never saw Wellman in a bad mood.
“He would always check in on me and see how I was doing,” recounted Montoya.
If you would like to support Kaegan Wellman’s family while they’re grieving, a verified fundraiser can be found here.
They also wanted to extend an invitation to the public to the two victims’ candlelit vigil on Saturday. They say it’s happening at Memorial Park at 8 p.m.
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Map shared by Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office
Map of the pre-evacuation area shared by Chaffee County Government
Photo courtesy of Shelly Birch
