Trial reset for Cedar Rapids man accused of killing his family

CEDAR RAPIDS — The trial for a 21-year-old Cedar Rapids man, charged with fatally shooting his parents and sister last year, has been reset to early next year.

The trial for Alexander Ken Jackson, a former University of Iowa student, previously set for Sept. 20, has been bumped to Jan. 10 because of scheduling conflicts for depositions. Jackson also waived his speedy trial right, which he had initially demanded.

In May, 6th Judicial District Chief Judge Lars Anderson denied the defense’s request to move the trial out of Linn County because of extensive pretrial publicity. He ruled the media coverage hadn’t been “pervasive and inflammatory,” as the defense argued.

Jackson is charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He is accused of killing his father, Jan Jackson, 61; mother, Melissa Jackson, 68; and sister, Sabrina Jackson, 19.

Police were called, about 8:30 a.m. on June 15, 2021, to the Jackson home at 4414 Oak Leaf Ct. NE and found the three family members had been fatally shot, according to then criminal complaint.

Jackson, then 20, told police he had been awakened by gunfire and was shot in the foot as he struggled over a rifle with a masked intruder.

Investigators found no evidence of forced entry or burglary at the home, according to the complaint. They discovered a .22-caliber Browning semi-automatic rifle in the home that police think is the murder weapon.

Jackson said he and his father had left it on the fireplace after cleaning it the night before, the complaint stated.

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