The affidavit also concluded that Ellison or Keegan did not have any injuries indicating a physical fight had occurred. Mr. Davis was hit three times and died in the car. On Nov. 23, 2012, Jordan Davis, 17, was shot and killed as he sat in a friends S.U.V. According to KOBI-TV in Medford, Southern Oregon activists are planning a rally Dec. 2 at the Jackson County Courthouse. His specialties include Family Medicine. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. However, an official autopsy report does not support that account, concluding the teenagers body did not show injuries that would have been indicative of him punching Keegan.. Several Black men and women spoke of how they had been racially profiled or stigmatized, and they mourned for the young life that was snuffed out. Theyre just as bad as he is. Keegan claimed Ellison punched him in the face and that he fired in self-defense, according to court records. A Talent man pleaded not guilty Friday to a murder charge stemming from the shooting death of a Black teenager Nov. 23 in the parking lot of an Ashland hotel, the Jackson County District Attorneys office said. On Nov. 23, Robert Keegan fired a single shot into Ellison's chest after complaining about the music late at night in a motel parking lot. You speak as if you are a member of the accused's family. He is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges. Ashland Police Dept. He pleaded not guilty to all four charges on Friday. And I hope this story will receive mainstream coverage not from the perspective of a helpless fire victim, but a racist hate crime that decimated a community. Robert Paul Keegan, 47, shot Aidan Ellison on Monday at the Stratford Inn in Ashland after the pair got into an argument over Ellison playing loud music, Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara. Robert Keegan, 47, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, reckless endangering, and unlawful weapons possession in connection with the death of 19-year-old Aidan Ellison, the Ashland Police Department said in a news release. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. A press release from Ashland Police Department says both Ellison and Keegan were staying at the Stratford Inn in Ashland, and that the two did not know each other. In Ashland, Oregon, a white man was arrested and is suspected offatally shooting a Black teen in a motel parking lot Monday morning following a heated altercation that, according to authorities, started over loud music. OMeara said on Facebook that the pair had argued over Ellisons blaring music prior to the deadly shooting, but the post has since been deleted, The Oregonian reported. You have a murder committed in your town and nowhere can you find information from "journalists". Sprinkled with cafes and trendy restaurants, Ashland is considered a hip town in a conservative part of Oregon. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, accused of killing a black teen at a hotel. The authorities in Ashland, Ore., said they were investigating whether the killing of Aiden Ellison after a confrontation in a hotel parking lot had been driven by race.. Telephone and email messages sent to Mr. Keegans relatives were not returned. The only thing that caused this murder was suspects actions, 100 percent., This did not happen because of loud music, he added. SALEM, Ore. (AP) The killing of a young Black man last month by a white man who complained that he was playing loud music has roiled Ashland, Oregon, forcing the liberal college town that is famous for its Shakespeare festival to take a hard look at race relations. On Nov. 23, Robert Keegan fired a single shot into Ellison's chest after complaining about the music late at night in a motel parking lot. In October, Edmonds said her organization held a police forum to discuss the matter further, and allow the officers to hear from Black residents. Enough is enough. Trump says he's heading to Georgia to campaign for GOP sen Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Harry and Meghan hold the upper hand on King Charles coronation: Source, Hated Tom Sandoval addresses Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Undertaker transforms coffin into barbecue grill, Tom Sizemore And The Dangerous Burden of Desperation, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. 2023 Cable News Network. Robert Keegan, 47, is. Ellisons death recalled the killing exactly eight years earlier of Jordan Davis, a Black 17-year-old high school student, who was gunned down by a white man in Florida following an argument over loud music. The shooting drew condemnation from Southern Oregons Black community, which raised concerns about the areas culture and history of white supremacy. He was just getting started on his lifelong journey when he was taken from us, Ellisons family said in a statement released by his mother, Andrea Wofford. It is completely immaterial what led up to it, OMeara wrote. It is completely immaterial what led up to it, Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara said in a Thursday statement. hell.. Resides in Ashland, OR. Benjamin Lull, a deputy Jackson County district attorney, said the killing was still being investigated and declined to discuss it in detail. He pleaded not guilty to all. Robert Paul Keegan, 47, of Talent, entered the plea Friday to charges including second-degree murder in the fatal Nov. 23 shooting of 19-year-old Aidan Ellison, according to the Jackson County District Attorneys Office. . I lost count the number of He is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges.- ADVERTISEMENT -https://s.yimg.com/rq/darla/4-6-/html/r-sf-flx.html The fatal shooting has sparked outrage across the state, including from one advocacy group that insisted Ellisons death was another example of Southern Oregons racist history with and current practice of white supremacy. On Thanksgiving, dozens gathered for a vigil outside the Stratford Inn to honor the teenager, and another is scheduled for Dec. 2. Hes To be clear, Aidan was murdered because he was a young black person who made a white man uncomfortable and refused to submit to that mans personally-perceived authority not because he was listening to music too loudly, the Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists and Community Coalition (SOBLACC) said in a statement. Yes! His ex-wife Amy Jo Hoppins is one Mr. Keegan had been staying at the Stratford Inn since being displaced by the Almeda Fire in September, Chief OMeara said. (Prosecutors said the endangerment charge was filed because a hotel clerk was nearby at the time of the shooting.). even worse, was how abusive he was to my son. On Wednesday evening, a crowd of people stood on a lawn outside the Jackson County Justice Building in nearby Medford for a vigil for Ellison. He is being held without bail after pleading not. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Another reason might be they're scared of BLM activists protesting in our "safe" little bubble. And unfortunately, Aidans murder is just an example of why that is the case.. He even drugged me from time to time. Sara Jones, Ellisons roommate, told ABC 12 that Aidan had the kindest kind of soul and that he was a good kid. Robert Paul Keegan, 47, shot Aidan Ellison on Monday at the Stratford Inn in Ashland after the pair got into an argument over Ellison playing loud music, Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara told CNN. still good at it.. If you search him on https://webportal.courts.oregon.gov/portal/You can see the court mandated classes for domestic violence and the no contact order. More Stories: - Prison guard says he was fired for Black Lives Matter shirt Keegan left with her son. She added that the organization was frustrated with many people, including police and local news organizations, for their attempts to absolve Keegan while vilifying Ellison. The shooting has drawn condemnation from Southern Oregons Black community, which raised concerns about the areas culture and history of white supremacy. He is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail without bail and is set to appear in court on February 21, 2021. Inn after claiming hed lost his home during the Almeda Fire. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Instead, another family is in mourning, and the country is learning the name of yet another Black teenager who didnt get the chance to grow up.. Which of the TV stations have "good journalists"? According to the news release, Keegan pulled a gun from his coat and shot Ellison once in the chest. Refine Your Search Results. threatened. Robert Paul Keegan, 47 . Ms. Hopkins, as an alleged victim of spousal abuse, deserves a voice -- as does Aidan Ellison. All rights reserved (About Us). said. Ellison, who police have said was also a guest at the hotel at the time, was homeless, a friend hed stayed with sporadically told KMVU last week. Keegan who was staying at the Stratford Inn hotel in Ashland with his 3-year-old son after being displaced from their home in September during one of the state's wildfires became enraged by Ellison for playing loud music in the parking lot at about 4 a.m. as the pair argued. Is that "good journalism"? "It is believed that the suspects were driving around the city randomly shooting at citizens with no apparent motive," the Henderson Police Department said in a press release. OMeara clarified his comments about Keegans alleged motive on Thursday, saying the only thing that caused Ellisons death was the suspects actions. Keegan was staying at. In 2014, a jury rejected Mr. Dunns self-defense claim and convicted him of first-degree murder. 2. A guest at the inn, Robert Paul Keegan, 47, left his room because he thought someone was playing music too loudly in the lot outside, according to the police. Its your job to look out the window and find out which is true. -- Journalism 101. Ellison was found with a gunshot wound to his chest. Black Musicians Are Not A Monolith: An Interview with Bartees Strange. Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara said in a statement on Facebook that the two got into an argument over Ellison playing loud music in the parking lot. The FBI is working with Ashland police to assess whether Robert Keegan violated any federal laws in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Aidan Ellison, according to the local agency. Lived . Robert Paul Keegan, 47, shot Aidan Ellison on Monday at the Stratford Inn in Ashland after the pair got into an argument over Ellison playing loud music, Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara. These dupes are the price of the iconic sweater, but still as sleek as a slicked-back bun and hoops. ASHLAND, Ore. An Oregon man has been arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of a Black 19-year-old following what authorities described as a dispute over loud music. The anonymous source said it was At around 4:20 a.m. Monday, Keegan, allegedly shot and killed a young Black man named Aidan Ellison, 19, Ashland. Ellison was reportedly in the Ashland's Stratford Inn parking lot and listening He told officials that Ellison punched him in the face during their encounter, which he said prompted him to pull a gun out of his coat and open fire. He speaks English and Spanish. It happened because the suspect chose to bring a gun with him and chose to use it, 100% on him, not the poor young man that was murdered., He also told CNN the shooting was utterly senseless., Didnt need to happen, he said. That young man didnt deserve that. He, he was just a great person. well, they got sloppy.I've covered the crime beat for a long time. Robert Keegan, 47, has been charged with his murder. Chief OMeara said the department was looking into whether the shooting was driven by race, adding that a racial motive had not been legally substantiated.. Aidan was murdered because he was a young Black person who made a white man uncomfortable and refused to submit to that mans personally-perceived authority - not because he was listening to music too loudly.. KTVL: Southern Oregon's local media dumpster fire. Little information was immediately available about Ellison himself. It is time that Southern Oregon make a real commitment to dismantling anti-Black racism, by committing time, energy, and the resources needed to create community conversations that unpack and address how white supremacy culture among white and non-Black people jeopardize the safety of Black people, the group added. While a GoFundMe account in (Andy Atkinson/The Medford Mail Tribune via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. CNNs Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report. Robert P Keegan, 49. Three days after the killing, Chief OMeara issued a statement seeking to clarify remarks attributed to him in some news accounts of the shooting. In the Ashland Tidings no report was made on the victim of this crime. and take my phone and car keys, she said. While media The killing of Mr. Ellison recalled a similar shooting in Florida exactly eight years earlier. as well as other partner offers and accept our. The murder of Aidan Ellison is another example of Southern Oregons racist history with and current practice of white supremacy, wrote Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists and Community Coalition in a statement. Robert Keegen has been charged with murder in the shooting of an Oregon teen Tonya Pendleton | Nov 27, 2020 Loading the player. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Facebook posts from some Ashland Black Lives Matter groups said there would be a vigil for the teen on Thursday, at the site where he was killed. It has been reported in some local media sources that I said this murder was because of something, he said. This is at the root of racism.. Robert Keegan, 47, pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts at his arraignment, including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, reckless endangering and unlawful possession of a. Michael Dunn was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Weve just had conversations about how dangerous that is calling the police on a Black person for basic things like playing music too loud, Edmonds said. murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm (Keegan OMeara confirmed that the person responsible for the shooting was still on scene and was detained immediately by the officers. He also mentioned that paramedics tried to save Ellison but were unsuccessful. An Oregon man displaced by one of the states devastating wildfires was charged with killing a man at a motel he was temporarily living in, according to a report. Robert Keegan, a 47-year-old white man, is accused of shooting Ellison during a Nov. 23, 2020, dispute over loud music in the parking lot of the Stratford Inn in Ashland. STAND UP FOR AIDAN ELLISON! It doesnt change a thing, how good the man who shot him was. OMeara released a statement on Facebook on Thursday, addressing concerns that he said some community members had about his comments on the murder. "The victim had apparently been playing some music loudly in the parking lot and this upset the suspect, which caused the suspect to go down and engage him in an argument," Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara told KTVL-TV. 2. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. It is muckracking, offering no publicly-pertinent information, and conveys nothing about the character of the murder suspect except by hearsay or insinuation. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). possible that Keegan supposedly had his records expunged explaining why nothing is on record. Dr. Matthew Stafford Keegan, MD is a health care provider primarily located in Portland, OR, with another office in Clackamas, OR. In response, Keegan claimed he backed up, racked a round, and shot Ellison in the chest because he was in fear for his personal safety, according to the affidavit. Keegan, who also pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm and recklessly endangering another person, was ordered held without bail ahead of his next court appearance on Feb. 22, prosecutors said. I dont feel more safe because Im here in Ashland. Why KTVL or the other local media failed to check . Hes the one who chose to bring a gun into the situation., 1 dead after multiple random shootings in Nevada on Thanksgiving. Keegan is facing four criminal counts, including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, reckless endangering and unlawful possession . Thats why Im hiding from him and his family., Thank you for digging for the truth and not whitewashing and victim blaming like other media. The FBI is working with the Ashland Police Department to assess whether federal laws may have been violated, the police department announced Thursday. While media reports stated Keegan was from Talent, Hoppins said her ex's last known address was on the 300 block of Kent Street in Ashland. As of press time, Keegan is in the county jail and held without bond. Black man on Nov. 23. order against him when they lived in Coos County. I understand that there are legitimate tensions surrounding matters of violence against people of color in the US, and this situation speaks directly to that, OMeara said. This is not good journalism, but rather an excellent example of trash journalism. Keegan who was staying at the Stratford Inn hotel in Ashland with his 3-year-old son after being displaced from their home in September during one of the states wildfires became enraged at Ellison playing loud music in the parking lot at about 4 a.m., Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara previously said. We've received your submission. But the perpetrator is smooth talker. Ashland, a city of 21,000 people that lies at the foot of a mountain range near the California border, is home to Southern Oregon University and hosts the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of people each year from around the country for plays. However, she claimed that Hoppins said Keegan might have a Do you care? Keegan has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, according to police. Speak AIDAN ELLISON's name and het justice! The suspect confronted Ellison and allegedly fatally shot him, authorities said. Keegan is also charged with unlawful possession of a weaponfor concealing a firearm without a concealed carry permit as well as reckless endangering, a charge related to another person who was present during the shooting, according to KTVL. All Rights Reserved. KTVL 10 reports that 47-year-old Robert Keegan was still on the scene when police arrived after he allegedly shot 19-year-old Aidan Ellison outside of the Stratford Inn. Robert Paul Keegan, 47, of Talent, entered the plea Friday to charges including second-degree murder in the fatal Nov. 23 shooting of 19-year-old Aidan Ellison, according to the Jackson County. Ellisons death. But Ashland Mayor-elect Julie Akins said she believes racism was behind the shooting. I can't say for sure, but I suspect that Southern Oregon is not blessed with many talented investigative journalists. Mr. Ellison, he said, was just the most selfless person.. ensued and Ellison was shot. Its not just about a racist person, but about structure, policy and things that allow the marginalization and unfair criminalization of Black people.. life, she said. Thats not our purpose and its not our responsibility.. Amy was always terrified, they The fatal shooting of Ellison, a young Black man, by Robert Keegan, a . that theyre in my heart and prayers. at the time of the shooting. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara said investigators have not found any evidence that would support bias crime charges against Keegan. Aidans murder isnt a Black problem, but a community problem.. Ashland Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to attempt to render aid, however, the man was beyond help, police said in a statement, adding that the two did not know each other previously. An Oregon man was accused of murdering a Black teenager after an argument of a 19-year-old boy playing loud music in a hotel parking lot days before Thanksgiving. Gun control advocacy group Oregon Moms Demand Action released a statement Saturday highlighting a 2020 statistic showing Black Oregonians are dying of gun homicide at five times the rate of white Oregonians. Keegan has. Keegans attorney did not return a request for comment, CNN reported Monday. Thanks for contacting us. do something for them. Edmonds said her organization also challenges comments from those who say Keegan should have called the police instead of acting on his own. All of those things are not relevant to what occurred. Keegan was arraigned on November 24 and indicted for charges including second degree murder, first degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm, and recklessly endangering another person. Ashland Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to attempt to render aid, however the man was beyond help, the police said. But that's the narrative, that's the frame of white supremacy," Edmonds said. Robert Keegan, 47, from the city of Talent, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm and recklessly endangering another. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. It has been reported in some local media sources that I said this murder was because of something, OMeara said. TzadhiI Masji Burt, 19, said that he was close friends with Mr. Ellison and that they had both experienced homelessness in Ashland. . A Warner Bros. I just wish I could do something for somewhere safe from them.. Black Teenager Is Fatally Shot in Argument Over Music, Police Say, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/30/us/aidan-ellison-oregon-shooting.html. Its not about white peoples comfort. Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara said in a since-deleted statement on Facebook that the pair were arguing about Ellison playing loud music in the parking lot. Keegan was staying at the motel with his son after the Almeda Fire caused them to be displaced from their home in Talent. The Nov. 23 killing of Aidan Ellison, a black teenager, by Robert Keegan, a white man who complained that Ellison was playing music too loud late at night in a motel parking lot has rocked nearby Ashland, Ore. would do that, they said. SALEM, Ore. The killing of a young Black man last month by a white man who complained that he was playing loud music has roiled Ashland, Oregon, forcing the liberal college . and told them about her past with Keegan. This undated image provided by Sunmoon Oh shows Aidan Ellison, who was killed on Nov. 23, 2020, in Ashland, Ore. doubled down on her efforts to get custody of her son. Sunmoon Oh. And thus far has managed to turn it all into the *Blame the Victim Game* as much as possible. Hed force his way into my home was on the 300 block of Kent Street in Ashland. The death of Aidan Ellison, 19, added another name to the list of Black men and women whose killings have sparked a nationwide reckoning with racism and fueled a surge in a Black Lives Matter movement. Keegan and his son were staying at the Stratford Very good reporting, Brad. It's on record that Keegan had a restraining order filed against him. Hes that dangerous.. One anonymous source claimed they People getting violent with each other for such stupid reasons., Mr. Keegan was arrested at the scene and was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a weapon and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records. for it, she said. His lawyer did not immediately return The Daily Beasts request for comment. Discovery Company. According to NBC 5, Ellison was shot once in the chest. Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky, Candles are lit during a vigil for Aidan Ellison at the Jackson County Justice building in downtown Medford, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Yes, hes that crazed. on a number of occasions and she didnt know what to do.. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. I want them to know them.. When officers arrived, they found Ellison dead with a single gunshot wound to his chest. Mr. Lull said Mr. Keegan did not have a lawyer assigned to his case. 7:29 AM EST, Mon November 30, 2020, Teenager shot for playing loud music, police say. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Keegan said he then got stressed and collected his gun before going downstairs to the hotel reception to complain. He and Ellison were both staying at the motel but apparently did not know each other before that night. However, no shotgun was ever found and witnesses say they never saw one. Yes, there was an argument over music, no, this this did not happen because of loud music, it happened because the suspect chose to bring a gun with him and chose to use it, 100 percent on him, not the poor young man that was murdered.. Keegans face also had no visible sign of injuries, according to a newly unsealed probable cause affidavit filed in Jackson County Circuit.