Ashley Price didn’t know Aaron Poseidon Jackson that well, but she knew he was respectful and calm.

Violent wasn’t a word she would have used to describe him before Monday.

But after hearing the news that Jackson killed his two babies and long-time girlfriend, Price said she’s second-guessing what she “knew.”

Saturday night, Price said she questioned Jackson about two handguns he always carried with him. He told her that he even slept with weapons for protection because it wasn’t worth the risk not to.

“He said his life was too precious,” she said.

Price, 24, from Spotsylvania County, knew Jackson in passing for the past few years, but just began spending more time with him Friday.

“We spent the weekend having fun. I never knew it would be like this,” she said.

Price stayed in hotels with Jackson Friday and Saturday night, but she said he seemed happy throughout the weekend.

He told her he had split from his girlfriend, Latasha Thomas, and wanted to move on with his life

Then Monday, he called about 6 p.m. to ask her to pick him up from his trailer because he was upset that Thomas had sold some of his belongings, such as his X-Box 360.

After Price told him she couldn’t because she had to take care of her child, she didn’t hear from him again.

Just over three hours later, Jackson killed Thomas and the couple’s two children.

Now Price said she is hoping that her friendship and budding relationship with Jackson had no influence on his actions.

“I hope I’m not the reason why he did that,” she said. “I wasn’t his girlfriend. We just started spending time together over the weekend.”

Price said throughout the day yesterday, family and friends called her with accusations that she may have played a role, but Price said she just wants the Jackson and Thomas families to know she’s sorry for their losses and she never wanted something like this to happen.

“He did not seem like the person to do that, to lay a hand on anyone,” she said.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
ebiltz@freelancestar.com