2 days ago
Carmel teen shooting that left man with serious injuries started as weed pen robbery
New details have been released about a Carmel shooting on Aug. 9 leading to the arrest of five teenagers and requiring a man to have extensive surgery.
The shooting began as a robbery over marijuana pens, according to newly filed court records. Four teenagers participated in the robbery while another was detained for supplying and storing firearms used in the robbery, according to court records.
The man who was shot required extensive surgery as a result of "significant internal trauma" that may have long-term complications, court records said. Bullet fragments remain in his body.
A man and his cousin drove to the 1100 block of Golfview Drive of Carmel on Aug. 9 to sell weed pens to someone he met on Snapchat, according to the Carmel Police Departments. The cousin thought the driver was selling shoes because the pens were stored in a shoebox, he told police.
When the men arrived, they said they were ambushed by four teenagers with guns.
One of the teenagers got into the back of their car and demanded the driver hand over everything he had, court records indicated. The driver refused and was shot.
Along with a box of marijuana pens, court records said the teens stole about $1,200 in cash, which they split.
As the teens left, one was dropped off at an apartment complex. He told police he had work nearby.
The rest of the teens met with another juvenile on their way back to an address in Carmel where two of them lived.
That juvenile said he took their guns. He told police he'd stored their friends' firearms at least five other times. During questioning, he also admitted to a robbery during an unrelated drug deal earlier in the year, according to court records.
At least one teenager admitted to smoking the weed pens.
Below are the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office's charges against the teenagers.
Carmel police initially arrested a 14 year old for dangerous possession of a firearm, it said on Facebook one day after the shooting. It is not immediately clear whether prosecutors formalized the charge due to privacy considerations regarding minors.
Juvenile 1
Juvenile 2
Juvenile 3
Juvenile 4
Under Indiana law, teens older than 16 but younger than 18 charged with certain serious crimes are automatically treated as adults in court. Attempted murder and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury are both qualifying crimes.
IndyStar uses discretion in naming people accused of crimes, considering the severity of charges and available information, among other factors. Suspects may not be named if ongoing reporting of the associated court proceedings is not immediately planned.
