Fort Myers Man Sentenced to Life for Murder-for-Hire Plot

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Latrel Jackson, 27, also known as "Kobe," was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and the subsequent murder of Keion Upshaw. The sentencing follows a case that revealed a chilling plot orchestrated by Jackson and his co-defendant, Marvin Harris, Jr., who was sentenced to 45 years earlier this year. Court documents indicate that Harris, Jr., 25, hired Jackson and another now-deceased accomplice to travel from Chicago to Fort Myers with the intent to kill Upshaw for a payment of $10,000. The motive behind the murder was reportedly retaliation against a gang known as "Bucktown," which Harris believed was responsible for robbing a drug operation he was connected to. On November 2, 2019, Jackson and his accomplice executed the plan by targeting a Bucktown hangout in Fort Myers, where they shot Upshaw in the head. Following the murder, the two returned to Chicago the next day, leaving behind a trail of violence that would ultimately lead to their arrests. The case highlights the severe consequences of gang-related violence and the lengths individuals will go to settle scores. Jackson's life sentence serves as a stark reminder of the judicial system's stance against such heinous acts.