Dorchester man to get life for murdering woman who did not share his romantic feelings

A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted Christopher Jackson, 30, of killing a childhood friend who did not grow up to love him, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

The jury found Jackson guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Keosha Gilmore, 25, of Mattapan, on Feb. 19, 2012. The verdicts means an automatic life sentence, but with the opportunity to seek parole after 15 years. He also faces sentencing for convictions on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm.

According to the DA's office,

During nearly a week of testimony, Assistant District Attorney Mark Zanini presented evidence and testimony to prove that Jackson, angry that his childhood friend Gilmore did not share his romantic feelings, approached the victim as she sat in the passenger seat of a car parked on Alabama Street with another man on the night of Feb. 19, 2012. He fired a gun through the passenger window directly at Gilmore and fired twice. One bullet struck Gilmore in the head, mortally wounding her; the second went through her arm and into her chest.

Jackson then fled into New Calvary Cemetery, where he attempted to hide the murder weapon, latex gloves, and other items – all of which were recovered by Boston Police that same night.

During the course of their investigation, Boston Police homicide detectives became aware of Jackson’s romantic interest in Gilmore. They interviewed Jackson, obtained a DNA sample from him, and conducted testing that matched his unique genetic profile to DNA evidence on the items discarded in the cemetery on the night of the shooting.