20-Year-Old Iowa Man Accused Of Killing Family Says Masked Intruder Did It

A 20-year-old man in Iowa has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting his parents and younger sister to death. But according to him, a masked intruder was behind the killings.

Responding officers found Alexander Jackson inside his family's Cedar Rapids home with a gunshot wound to his foot at around 8:23 a.m. Tuesday.

His father, 61-year-old Jan Perry Jackson, his mother, 68-year-old Melissa Ferne Jackson, and his sibling, 19-year-old Sabrina Hana Jackson, were found shot to death in different rooms inside the house.

Alexander was taken to the Linn County Jail after being released from the hospital, the Cedar Rapids Police Department said. He was then charged with three counts of first-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison without parole, reported AP News.

However, Alexander denied the accusations. According to him, he was asleep when the attack began. He told investigators he had been woken up by the sound of gunfire. He also claimed that had been shot in the foot while struggling with the masked intruder, The Gazette said in a report.

"The defendant denied shooting his family members but admitted his father had recently advised that he needed to find a job or move out of the residence," the criminal complaint stated.

A 22-caliber Browning semi-automatic rifle, which was recovered inside the family's home, is believed to have been used in the killings. Jackson told police that his father had cleaned the rifle before leaving it on the fireplace the night before the attack.

But according to the criminal complaint, police found no evidence of a forced entry or burglary on the property. It allegedly hinted at a possible motive for the triple killings.

Slaughter and Assistant County Attorney Jordan Schier walked through the crime scene with investigators Tuesday. He concluded that Jackson should be charged with the murders, reported The Gazette.

Slaughter confirmed that Jackson had no criminal history. There were no records of any call for police assistance at the Cedar Rapids address, either.

"This was more than just a murder — it was an execution of the defendant's mother, father and sister," Assistant Linn County Attorney Ryan Decker said in court. "Furthermore, the defendant's concocted story of a phantom burglar shows the defendant acted out of malice and calculated intent to get away with these murders."