In the late hours of February 27, 2025, a distress call pierced the quiet of Klamath Falls, Oregon. On the other end of the line was 23-year-old Jai Jackson, his voice urgent as he reported that he had been shot in the chest. Officers from the Klamath Falls Police Department were dispatched to the scene at 2328 Biehn Street, arriving to find Jackson grievously wounded. Despite their immediate life-saving efforts, the young man succumbed to his injuries.
He was a father to three children.
Witnesses at the scene painted a grim picture of the events that led to the fatal shooting. Jackson had reportedly been involved in a physical altercation with two other men. The confrontation escalated tragically, ending with a single gunshot that claimed Jackson's life. The two individuals involved in the fight fled the scene, leaving a community in shock and a family devastated. The Klamath County Major Crime Team, a collaborative force of local and state law enforcement agencies, was activated to hunt for the perpetrators.
The investigation moved swiftly. Authorities identified the two suspects as 20-year-old Malacky Rodgers and 20-year-old Garin Riddle Jr. Within two days, on Saturday, March 1, 2025, both men were located and taken into custody. Rodgers was initially held on a parole violation. Riddle Jr. faced more severe charges, including second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and being a felon in possession of a weapon. The Klamath Falls Police Department publicly thanked the community for their assistance in the swift apprehension of the two suspects, though the investigation into the full circumstances of Jai Jackson's death remains ongoing.
