BOSTON, June 12, 2013—A Mattapan man remains held without bail today following his indictment and arraignment for first-degree murder in the shooting death last year of 25-year-old Keosha Gilmore, a childhood friend who did not share his romantic feelings, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The Suffolk County Grand Jury on May 30 handed down an indictment charging CHRISTOPHER JACKSON (D.O.B. 10/8/86) with that offense, along with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and carrying a loaded firearm in connection with the Feb. 19, 2012, incident that claimed Gilmore’s life. Jackson was arraigned on those charges today in Suffolk Superior Court.

Assistant District Attorney Gretchen Lundgren told the court that Jackson approached Gilmore as she sat in the passenger’s seat of a vehicle on Alabama Street at approximately 9:00 p.m. and shot her twice through the passenger’s side window.  The first bullet struck her right temple and traveled through her brain, killing her.  The second bullet went through Gilmore’s right arm and into her chest.

Jackson allegedly ran from the scene and into nearby cemetery, where he hid the gun, latex gloves that he wore during the murder, and other items.  Boston Police discovered those items that same night and linked Jackson to the items using a DNA sample he volunteered during an interview with investigators on February 13. Jackson had no prior record; he was identified as a potential suspect after investigators received information from a person who had seen a local news segment on the then-unsolved slaying.

Conley urged victims of any crime, including domestic violence, to call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020. SafeLink is answered by trained advocates 24 hours a day in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as TTY at 877-521-2601. It also has the capacity to provide multilingual translation in more than 140 languages.

Jackson was represented by Kevin MacDonald.  He will return to court on July 11.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.