College awards shooting victim a degree

JACKSONVILLE – Jacksonville College honored one of its students with a posthumous degree this weekend after he was killed in a club shooting on March 22. Students, parents and educators gathered at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville on Saturday for Jacksonville College’s graduation ceremony. One graduate who couldn’t walk the stage was Jacksonville native Keion Dewayne Redd.

Redd had earned the credits to complete his associate’s degree but was tragically killed as an innocent bystander in a March 22 club shooting in Smith County. Jacksonville College honored Redd on Saturday by presenting his associate’s degree to his mother, who walked in his place.

“This moment is about celebrating Keion’s accomplishments, the life he lived, and the future he was working toward,” Jacksonville College said. “His family wants him to be remembered for who he was, the people who loved him, and the milestone he earned.”