A 23-year-old man, Caleb Hawkins of De Soto, has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action following a fatal shooting in Jefferson County on Monday. The victim, 45-year-old Joel Kessler, was shot multiple times and died at the scene.
The shooting took place around 12:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of Victoria Station Road in De Soto. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Kessler and another individual had arrived at Hawkins’ residence and entered the home. While they were in the living room, Hawkins reportedly retrieved a 9mm gun.
A probable cause statement alleges that Hawkins then embraced the second person before shooting Kessler. During police questioning, Hawkins told investigators that he felt Kessler’s “body language screamed ‘evil’” and confessed to killing him.
Hawkins was arrested by responding deputies and taken to the Jefferson County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
