Were challenging the idea that racism could be everywhere except their police department, she said. Very good reporting, Brad. In 2014, a jury rejected Mr. Dunns self-defense claim and convicted him of first-degree murder. Keegan is facing four criminal counts, including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, reckless endangering and unlawful. would do that, they said. All rights reserved (About Us). In an eerie echo of the Jordan Davis case, an Oregon man has. The fact that Keegan armed himself and went out to confront someone is a major red flag. At around 4:20 a.m. Monday, Keegan, Robert Paul Keegan, 47, pleaded not guilty Friday to several charges, including second-degree murder, for the Nov. 23 shooting death of 19-year-old Aidan Ellison at the Stratford Inn hotel, the Jackson County District Attorneys Office said. FOX 26 reported that Keegan pleaded not guilty to the charges against him on Friday. 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. 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. Ellison was reportedly in the Ashland's Stratford Inn parking lot and listening 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. I just wish I could do something for Ashland Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to attempt to render aid, however the man was beyond help, the police said. Got a tip? But that's the narrative, that's the frame of white supremacy," Edmonds said. Im worried that he will come Mr. Keegan was being held without bail in the Jackson County Jail, according to jail records. Keegan, who was still at the scene, was arrested and taken to Jackson County Jail, officials said. We may earn a commission from links on this page. hell.. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR. The other passengers were not struck. We've received your submission. 2. ensued and Ellison was shot. Yes, there was an argument over music, no, 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.. 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. All Rights Reserved. He is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail without bail and is set to appear in court on February 21, 2021. Robert Keegan in Oregon. 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. Little information was immediately available about Ellison himself. 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. Thats not our purpose and its not our responsibility.. Some of them threatened her murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm (Keegan The motel where the shooting happened is the Stratford Inn, recalling Shakespeares birthplace of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Precious Edmonds, a spokesperson for the Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists and Community Coalition (SOBLACC), said the organization has not been in touch with Ellisons family, but the organization has planned a meeting for Dec. 7, inviting Black people living in Southern Oregon to come together and discuss priorities for their community. Ms. Hopkins, as an alleged victim of spousal abuse, deserves a voice -- as does Aidan Ellison. At one point, my lawyer said it Rosebud Media has a monopoly on print media. Ellison was found with a gunshot wound to his chest. Discovery Company. for it, she said. ASHLAND, Ore Some people arent 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. Its not just about a racist person, but about structure, policy and things that allow the marginalization and unfair criminalization of Black people.. The shot, which was fired at around 4:33 a.m. from a 9mm handgun, hit Ellisons heart and lungs, according to the autopsy report. It is completely immaterial what led up to it, Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara said in a Thursday statement. Benjamin Lull, a deputy Jackson County district attorney, said the killing was still being investigated and declined to discuss it in detail. Please visit both our pages and help where you can. Look at the actions of the perpetrator. A Talent man has been charged with murder after police say he shot and killed a Black teenager in the parking lot of an Ashland hotel on Monday. The only thing that caused this murder was suspects actions, 100 percent., This did not happen because of loud music, he added. Prosecutors said a white man, Michael Dunn, 46, who was parked next to them, asked them to turn down their music and they declined. This undated image provided by Sunmoon Oh shows Aidan Ellison, who was killed on Nov. 23, 2020, in Ashland, Ore. The accused actions and the actual reality of his actions speak for themselves. was on the 300 block of Kent Street in Ashland. Robert Keegan Jackson County Sheriff's Office Mr. Keegan was arrested at the scene and was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, unlawful possession of a weapon and. "It doesn't change a thing, how good the man who shot him was. Theyre just as bad as he is. well, they got sloppy.I've covered the crime beat for a long time. abuse continued. 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. Keegan has been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, according to police. The probable cause affidavit in the case is sealed. 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. As of press time, Keegan is in the county jail and held without bond. Hoppins said shes contacted the 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. 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. What he did to Aidan thats just the tip of the iceberg. Speak AIDAN ELLISON's name and het justice! He speaks English and Spanish. Its your job to look out the window and find out which is true. -- Journalism 101. 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. He, he was just a great person. 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. 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. I truly hope Jo Hoppins has the courage to tell her story in court, so he cant win over a jury, and his innocence can be disproved. Sunmoon Oh. Dr. Keegan is affiliated with Providence Portland Medical Center. 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. Keegans lawyer did not respond to CNNs request for comment. them.. Sunmoon Oh. and told them about her past with Keegan. GO TO THE COURT HOUSE! An Oregon advocacy group, meanwhile, said the teens murder is another example of Oregons racist history with and current practice of white supremacy. 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. 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. 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. I have scars all over my body that are visible damage from Robert Paul Keegan's sadistic abuse of me. 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. person. According to KTVL, a Medford-based news station, the homicide is the first in Ashland this year. The blame for the incident is entirely on Robert Keegan, he is 100% responsible for it, OMeara said. The Ashland Police Department stated the incident began at around 4:20 a.m. on Nov. 23 after Keegan, who was staying at the Ashland hotel with his 3-year-old son after being forced from his home after a wildfire, became enraged with Ellison about the volume of music that was coming from inside his car. This story has been shared 122,317 times. that theyre in my heart and prayers. This is at the root of racism.. One anonymous source claimed they Its not a coincidence that a white man, according to police, chose to take the life of a young Black man for the offense of playing his music. A candlelit vigil to remember Ellison was held at the Stratford Inn parking lot Thursday night. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Yes, Im scared as 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. Is that "good journalism"? 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). I hope that one day, they have the strength to face Aidans killer, and to tell their story so that killer understands what he did. Hes the one who chose to bring a gun into the situation., 1 dead after multiple random shootings in Nevada on Thanksgiving. How many Black men have to die before this community takes hate crimes seriously?. OMeara released a statement on Facebook on Thursday, addressing concerns that he said some community members had about his comments on the murder. He was listening to his music too loudly thats irrelevant, Edmonds said. Mr. Lull said Mr. Keegan did not have a lawyer assigned to his case. On occasion, they would stay together whenever one of them found suitable housing, Mr. Burt said. I can speak as a member of the white-bodied community in saying it is past time we take stock of systemic racism, which continues to cause the death of our brothers and sisters of color, Akins said in a statement. reports stated Keegan was from Talent, Hoppins said her exs last known address 2. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. At around 4:20 a.m. Monday, Keegan, allegedly shot and killed a young Black man named Aidan Ellison, 19, Ashland. He has a GoFundMe as do I. 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. A Warner Bros. as well as other partner offers and accept our. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. dont deserve this pain and suffering now. On Nov. 23, 2012, Jordan Davis, 17, was shot and killed as he sat in a friends S.U.V. Keegan didnt have a criminal record, Hoppins stated that in 2012 she got a restraining man and hell be emboldened after this. doubled down on her efforts to get custody of her son. 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. He pleaded not guilty to all. 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. 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. Updated So, I did. 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, Tighe OMeara, Ashland Police chief said, KTVL reports. The shooting occurred at the Stratford Inn hotel where both were staying on Monday after Keegan confronted the teen about the volume of his music. Cops said that Keegan was not happy about the loud music and -- armed Authorities say Keegan, who is white, fatally shot Ellison in the chest during an argument over the teens loud music from inside his car in the parking lot. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Oregon bill would give homeless $1,000 a month to spend with no restrictions, Family terrorized by squatters who set neighbor's house on fire twice, Oregon liquor regulators caught 'abusing' position to snag pricey bourbons for themselves, Famed Portland goats let loose in protest of homeless sweep. threatened to burn my home. The suspect confronted Ellison and allegedly fatally shot him, authorities said. 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. The only thing that caused this murder was suspects actions, 100%. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. He and Ellison were both staying at the motel but apparently did not know each other before that night. I dont think hes safe with Black activists in Ashland say the killing has exposed the towns undercurrent of racism. Keegan is being held in custody without bail until his next court date Feb. 22, 2021, officials said. I suffered years of his incessant screaming how he's having another mental breakdown. At around 4:20 a.m. Monday, Robert Keegan, 47, Talent, allegedly shot and killed a young Black man named Aidan Ellison, 19, Ashland. He had nothing, but yet even if he had something, he would give it to you, no questions asked, pal Sunmoon Oh told the station. You have a murder committed in your town and nowhere can you find information from "journalists". This story has been shared 122,317 times. The fatal shooting of Ellison, a young Black man, by Robert Keegan, a . Keegan left with her son. It is muckracking, offering no publicly-pertinent information, and conveys nothing about the character of the murder suspect except by hearsay or insinuation. nothing was done. Mr. Dunn pulled a 9-millimeter pistol from his glove compartment and fired it 10 times. This is not good journalism, but rather an excellent example of trash journalism. Thanks for contacting us. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Not only of Keegan but his goddamned family. Keegan claimed Ellison punched him in the face and that he fired in self-defense, according to court records. Violent, Im so sorry for his family and friends and I wish I could Keegan was swiftly arrested and his son was handed over to his grandparents. The shooting took place in the early-morning hours of Nov. 23 at the Stratford Inn in Ashland, Ore., about 180 miles south of Eugene, the police said. Listening to music should never end in death. It is completely immaterial what led up to it, OMeara wrote. 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. They just report what they're told by the powers that be. 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. Telephone and email messages sent to Mr. Keegans relatives were not returned. On Nov. 23, Robert Keegan fired a single shot into Ellisons chest after complaining about the music late at night in a motel parking lot. In a statement, he said that his office had no information (at this point) on what (if any) songs were being played by Mr. Ellison, and that he was not yet able to comment on what role race may (or may not) have played in the homicide at this point.. Robert KEEGAN of Curtin University, Bentley | Contact Robert KEEGAN 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. "He was listening to his music too loudly that's irrelevant," Precious Edmonds, a representative of Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists, and Community Coalition told Oregon Live. Keegan was staying at the inn because he was among those displaced by the Almeda Drive wildfire, which killed two people and tore through hundreds of homes, according to OMeara. Ashland likes to believe that it is a utopia, but it isnt, activist Precious Edmonds told Oregon Public Broadcasting. I worry about what he might do to my Black Musicians Are Not A Monolith: An Interview with Bartees Strange. Robert has 1 job listed on their profile. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Robert's . But a police officer reported that Keegan had no visible injuries to his face and that an autopsy showed no injuries to Ellisons hands that would have indicated he had hit Keegan. The slaying forced the liberal college town to take a hard look at race relations. His lawyer did not immediately return The Daily Beasts request for comment. 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. Keegans name proclaims that hes a kind and loving man, a good father This undated image provided by Sunmoon Oh shows Aidan Ellison, who was killed on Nov. 23, 2020, in Ashland, Ore. A man in Oregon fatally shot a teenager Thanksgiving week after getting upset that the 19-year-old was playing music loudly in the parking lot of an inn that the two were staying at, police said. An Oregon man fatally shot a Black teenager on Monday after a confronting him for playing loud music in a hotel parking lot, according to police and local media reports. Please! 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. The teen, whose name has not been publicly confirmed by police, has been widely identified on social media and in news reports as Aidan Ellison, 19. Keegan then took a gun out of his coat and fired a single shot into Ellisons chest, police reports say. Do you care? I dont feel more safe because Im here in Ashland. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The incident where Aidan was shot after an argument listening to his music was really about him not submitting to that mans perceived authority, she said. 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. . Chief Tighe OMeara of the Ashland Police Department identified the victim as Aiden Ellison, 19, though a friend and a woman who answered the phone at Ashland High School, where Mr. Ellison was a student, said his first name was Aidan, with two As. A Black teenager was shot and killed last week in Oregon by a white man who had confronted him in a hotel parking lot for playing loud music, the authorities said. Keegan, 47, is from the nearby small town of Talent, which was heavily damaged in a wildfire in September. SOBLACC has planned a meeting for Dec. 7, inviting Black people living in Southern Oregon to come together and discuss priorities for their community. somewhere safe from them.. He is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges. 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. Some articles noted that Keegan was a survivor of the Almeda fire, and a GoFundMe page raising money for their losses notes that Keegan and his young son were living at the hotel while they tried to recover from the fire that destroyed thousands of structures in the Ashland area. According to KOBI-TV in Medford, Southern Oregon activists are planning a rally Dec. 2 at the Jackson County Courthouse. ..you flying Monkey Zack, Your comment makes you appear cold and heartless. Its not about white peoples comfort. 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.. All of those things are not relevant to what occurred. He is being held without bond at Jackson County Jail. Enough is enough. Michael Dunn was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. . CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. . Keegan was taken into custody and charged with second-degree Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The teens slaying is the only homicide in Ashland this year, SOBLACC officials said. In keeping with the Shakespeare theme, many of the communitys buildings have Tudor-style architecture. 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. Ashland Police Dept. 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 . son. 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.. Edmonds said her organization also challenges comments from those who say Keegan should have called the police instead of acting on his own. said. He is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges. (Prosecutors said the endangerment charge was filed because a hotel clerk was nearby at the time of the shooting.). December 3, 2020. Robert Keegan, 47, is. The confrontation eventually escalated into a verbal dispute, then a fatal shooting, according to KTVL-TV. 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). Bobs a violent man. (Keegans) family, she said. Which of the TV stations have "good journalists"? Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. He was pronounced dead at the scene. appreciated. I want to do whatever I can with the police department to navigate our marginalized community member relationships and find a way through this.. Edmonds said the killing itself, as well as the way it was framed by police and local media, is an example of the areas culture of white supremacy. Actions speak louder than words. While it has been reported that View Robert Kegan's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Oregon has a racist history the state constitution once prohibited Blacks from living in the state. It doesnt change a thing, how good the man who shot him was. And thus far has managed to turn it all into the *Blame the Victim Game* as much as possible. Black man on Nov. 23. He pleaded not guilty to all four charges on Friday. He pleaded not guilty to charges. Keegan, who was staying at the motel with his young son, got angry at Ellison for playing loud music in the parking around 4 a.m., according to Ashland Police Chief Tighe OMeara. According to the affidavit first obtained by The Oregonian, Keegan told police hed asked Ellison to turn down the music that had awakened him, but the teenager refused. 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. Keegans face also had no visible sign of injuries, according to a newly unsealed probable cause affidavit filed in Jackson County Circuit. even worse, was how abusive he was to my son.