Charged: 14-year-old Keller McQuay faces multiple counts in shooting death of girl



RACINE COUNTY -- 14-year-old Keller McQuay appeared in a Racine County court on Monday, September 14th -- charged in the death of 14-year-old Vista Jackson.

McQuay faces the following charges:


    According to the criminal complaint, McQuay shot Jackson on Thursday evening, September 10th inside a home near Douglas and Albert in Racine. Jackson later died from her injuries at a hospital.

    The complaint indicates Jackson was in the home with McQuay and a third person. That third person (witness) told police, she heard McQuay and Jackson saying they love each other and shortly thereafter, she "heard a pop. After the pop, McQuay came running to (witness) in the kitchen and said, 'Vista.'"



    A short time later, another person was coming back to the house where the incident happened and saw "Keller McQuay coming out of the doorway." He stated, "Oh my God, I just shot Vista."

    Two days after the shooting, officers received a phone call from a person who lived two houses away -- and "had been out mowing in her backyard when she located a firearm." The rifle's wooden stock and barrel had been "sawed off." The rifle was a .22 caliber. Jackson was shot with a .22 caliber bullet.

    Keller McQuay



    In court on Monday, the judge found there was probable cause to send the case to trial. Cash bond for McQuay was set at $250,000 -- and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 23rd.

    Merrica McWhorter was in court on Monday and will remember this about her younger sister, Vista.

    "Her smile, her outgoing-ness everything. Smart, beautiful," said McWhorter.

    Vista Jackson



    "She was always grinning, she was always a good girl," said Donna Marsh, Vista's grandmother.

    Jackson's family noticed this about Keller McQuay in court on Monday.

    "I believe he feels bad for what he's done. But he's got to suffer the consequences. My sister will never get her life back," said McWhorter.

    Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.