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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Gary man guilty in connection with 13-year-old's gang-linked murder
A Lake Superior Court jury deliberated a few hours Friday afternoon before finding the second man charged in a 13-year-old's gang-linked killing guilty of murder. Dahvee Brunson, 19, of Gary, was charged in connection with Orie Dodson's death. His sentencing is slated for Sept. 26; he faces gun and gang enhancements when sentenced. Prosecutors allege Brunson, Elijah Porter and Kriston Barbee gunned down Dodson in a drive-by shooting around noon in front of Gary's Power and Light Church on Feb. 15, 2023. Authorities believe that in a two-way Instagram Live video, Dodson was disrespecting Julius 'Chop' James IV, 24 — a 'revered' and 'untouchable' figure in the 49th Avenue Boys gang, according to court records. James was gunned down in Gary on Feb. 11, 2019. Brunson had been starting to 'associate' with a rival 5th Ave. gang, prosecutors said. Police recovered 38 bullet casings. Dodson ran as shots rang out. He died from a single shot to the back. He was also wounded twice in the legs. Prosecutors acknowledged it was a circumstantial case. Defense lawyers argued Brunson stayed at his mom's house that day. Brunson carried a phone without a SIM card – meaning there was no cellphone tower location data from that device placing him at the scene. Murder weapons were not recovered. In closing arguments, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Brown created a timeline of events leading to Dodson's murder. Barbee – who got 125 years for the killing in August – was Brunson's 'bestie,' he told jurors. That morning, Brunson messaged someone saying he was 'finna go' to Gary's west side. Cellphone location data showed Barbee was in the area where Brunson lived that morning – as if to pick him up. Dodson missed a video call from Brunson's social media account about 20 minutes before the shooting – as prosecutors alleged they stalked and tracked him. 'What a coincidence,' Brown said. Another man – whom Brunson was trying to sell guns to – texted him around 11:40 a.m. that he was outside Brunson's mom's house. Brunson responded around 2:40 p.m. It suggested he wasn't at home at the time of the murder, Brown argued. Brunson's mother – who testified – was vague, saying she saw him at breakfast and dinner, Brown said. Later, he told jurors she didn't want to 'get specific' because she knew her son killed the boy. Gary Police Detective Justin Clark tried to call her at least twice and she never appeared for an interview. 'She was a mom (trying) to save her son,' Brown said, of her testimony. Court documents detail a text exchange between Brunson and his mother the next day, on Feb. 16, 2023, after news of Dodson's murder broke. 'It ain't nun you did 2 make me act this way or do the stuff I do ma I promise I love you and immmma be safe,' Brunson wrote. 'I'm sick to she replied. 'You don't even …know Chop!!! (Expletive) CHOP!! Now ya'll kill me.' 'Lol wasn't I wit you when tht boy died lol,' he wrote. 'Yu think I killed tht lol boy jus like the last 1.' After the shooting, Brown said Brunson's homemade rap videos uploaded online appeared to shift with lyrics alluding to Dodson's death. Cellphone pictures taken days afterwards showed pictures of bullet casings from the same brand found at the crime scene. Defense lawyer Herb Shaps said there were too many holes – there was no credible DNA, fingerprints, tattoos showing gang affiliation, or proof he actually left his mom's house. The prosecution barely called any regular people to the witness stand, he said. The man whom Brunson tried to sell guns to was not called. Ladaisha Baker, Porter's then-girlfriend who was on the Instagram chat, wasn't called. No cameras were showing Barbee picking Brunson up that day. Because police found three sets of bullet casings, they presumed three people were in the silver GMC Arcadia. They had no proof, Shaps argued. Barbee could have been carrying more than one gun. They needed 'not just a theory, not just a conclusion,' but 'real evidence.' 'Their whole case is circumstantial evidence,' he said, later adding it wasn't 'a case of guilt by association.' Brown retorted that a drive-by shooting wouldn't necessarily have DNA evidence. Brunson's mom 'actually kinda incriminated him,' he argued. 'She was so real,' he said. 'She thought he was the killer.' Musicians such as Jay-Z have lobbied state legislatures in recent years to bar prosecutors from using rap lyrics in court, saying it's not evidence. Brown told jurors there were too many details that referred to Dodson. 'That is not artistry,' Brown said. 'That is a confession.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Second man on trial for 13-year-old's gang death
A trial opened Monday for a second man charged in a 13-year-old's Gary gang-linked slaying. Dahvee Brunson, 19, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege Brunson, Elijah Porter and Kriston Barbee gunned down 13-year-old Orie Dodson in a drive-by shooting front of Gary's Power and Light Church on Feb. 15, 2023. Authorities believe that in a two-way Instagram Live video, Dodson was disrespecting Julius 'Chop' James IV, 24 — a 'revered' and 'untouchable' figure in the 49th Avenue Boys gang, according to court records. James was gunned down in Gary on Feb. 11, 2019. Brunson had been starting to 'associate' with a rival 5th Ave. gang, prosecutors said. Ladaisha Baker, Porter's on-and-off girlfriend, was also on the Instagram chat. When she testified in Barbee's trial, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Brown accused her of downplaying what she knew. She has not been charged in the case. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe, with co-counsel Tim Brown, told jurors the trio fired 38 times, hitting Dodson three times. The boy was killed by a shot to his back as he ran, she said. He was also shot two more times in the back of his legs. They had threatened to shoot up Dodson's mom's house, Dafoe said. That day, they 'stalked' and 'hunted' him. Dodson got a social media call within 30 minutes of the shooting from Brunson's account. Investigators later found rap lyrics in Brunson's phone about two weeks later that appeared to vaguely allude to parts of the shooting. It was about his 'experiences,' Dafoe said. 'He doesn't just talk about sliding (drive-by shootings). He does it.' Defense lawyer Herb Shaps countered that Brunson was at a relative's home on Gary's west side that morning. Records show he filed a notice of an alibi in early January 2024. He argued his client wouldn't be associated with the 49th Ave Boys, a Glen Park gang on Gary's east side. He was 'not involved in this murder,' Shaps, with co-counsel Brett Galvan, argued. No guns recovered were traced back to the shooting. A man testified Monday he lent the silver GMC Arcadia to Kriston Barbee on Feb. 14, 2023 and it was later used in the shooting. It was supposed to be returned the next morning. Barbee gave it back that evening with a bullet hole in the back part of the roof. The man said he didn't notice it until he washed the vehicle a few weeks later. He also said he didn't remember Barbee's name — he knew him as 'nephew' but knew the teen's father. The teen did odd jobs around his home Brunson's trial is expected to continue into next week. Co-defendant Kriston Barbee, 19, got 125 years for the killing in August 2024. Cappas denied bond for Porter earlier this month. His trial is set in October. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
21-07-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Second man on trial for 13-year-old's gang death
A trial opened Monday for a second man charged in a 13-year-old's Gary gang-linked slaying. Dahvee Brunson, 19, is charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege Brunson, Elijah Porter and Kriston Barbee gunned down 13-year-old Orie Dodson in a drive-by shooting front of Gary's Power and Light Church on Feb. 15, 2023. Authorities believe that in a two-way Instagram Live video, Dodson was disrespecting Julius 'Chop' James IV, 24 — a 'revered' and 'untouchable' figure in the 49th Avenue Boys gang, according to court records. James was gunned down in Gary on Feb. 11, 2019. Brunson had been starting to 'associate' with a rival 5th Ave. gang, prosecutors said. Ladaisha Baker, Porter's on-and-off girlfriend, was also on the Instagram chat. When she testified in Barbee's trial, Deputy Prosecutor Tim Brown accused her of downplaying what she knew. She has not been charged in the case. Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Dafoe, with co-counsel Tim Brown, told jurors the trio fired 38 times, hitting Dodson three times. The boy was killed by a shot to his back as he ran, she said. He was also shot two more times in the back of his legs. They had threatened to shoot up Dodson's mom's house, Dafoe said. That day, they 'stalked' and 'hunted' him. Dodson got a social media call within 30 minutes of the shooting from Brunson's account. Investigators later found rap lyrics in Brunson's phone about two weeks later that appeared to vaguely allude to parts of the shooting. It was about his 'experiences,' Dafoe said. 'He doesn't just talk about sliding (drive-by shootings). He does it.' Defense lawyer Herb Shaps countered that Brunson was at a relative's home on Gary's west side that morning. Records show he filed a notice of an alibi in early January 2024. He argued his client wouldn't be associated with the 49th Ave Boys, a Glen Park gang on Gary's east side. He was 'not involved in this murder,' Shaps, with co-counsel Brett Galvan, argued. No guns recovered were traced back to the shooting. A man testified Monday he lent the silver GMC Arcadia to Kriston Barbee on Feb. 14, 2023 and it was later used in the shooting. It was supposed to be returned the next morning. Barbee gave it back that evening with a bullet hole in the back part of the roof. The man said he didn't notice it until he washed the vehicle a few weeks later. He also said he didn't remember Barbee's name — he knew him as 'nephew' but knew the teen's father. The teen did odd jobs around his home Brunson's trial is expected to continue into next week. Co-defendant Kriston Barbee, 19, got 125 years for the killing in August 2024. Cappas denied bond for Porter earlier this month. His trial is set in October.
