INDIANAPOLIS -- Police arrested four men last week – the youngest just 17-years-old – for their alleged roles in four separate murder cases in Indianapolis.
On Friday, IMPD announced it had apprehended Nikolas Shannon, 21, James Johnson III, 17, and Brione Jackson, 33, on murder charges.
Shannon is accused of the Nov. 21 murder of Jared Dowell. Johnson is accused of killing 51-year-old John Echols on Oct. 11. Jackson is awaiting formal charges in connection to the murder of 33-year-old Anthony Bailey Jr.
PREVIOUS | Man killed in shooting on Indianapolis’ northeast side near 40th Street | Man found shot to death in car at the Marina Apartments | Person shot, killed on Catherwood Avenue | Woman found dead at north side apartments
On Saturday, police arrested 39-year-old Kelly Hudson in connection to the death of Catherine Dunaway, 51, on Nov. 3. He too awaits formal charges.
Below, find more detailed descriptions for each case:
Nikolas Shannon, 21
In a probable cause affidavit filed Thursday, IMPD detectives accuse Shannon and another man of setting up Jared Dowell for a robbery at the Marina Apartments.
During the robbery, police say Shannon drew a gun and fired a shot at Dowell. An autopsy determined the bullet severed Dowell’s spinal cord before lodging in his right lung. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
After a 45-minute standoff, police eventually convinced Shannon to leave his apartment in the same complex. Inside, officers allegedly found pipes, scales and packaging, along with apparent marijuana that had been partially flushed down a toilet. Police also found a sawed-off shotgun and a handgun that appeared to have recently been wiped clean.
James Johnson III, 17
Police were called to the 5300 block of East 40th Street around 10 p.m. on Oct. 11 on a report of a person shot.
They arrived to find 51-year-old John Echols Jr. suffering from multiple apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses told police they saw Echols talking to someone, and then heard four gunshots a short time later. Several witnesses said they believe the other man was the son of one of Echols’ former girlfriends.
MAP | 2017 Indianapolis Homicides
Police eventually identified the suspect as 17-year-old James Johnson III. Johnson was already a suspect in a theft investigation from Oct. 5, and had reportedly removed his GPS monitoring ankle bracelet.
Johnson’s uncle told police he believed his nephew had stolen his gun a week prior to the shooting.
Johnson was charged as an adult on Wednesday with one count of murder.
Brione Jackson, 33
Police found 33-year-old Anthony Bailey Jr. fatally shot inside a car in the 100 block of South Catherwood Avenue, near the intersection of Washington Street and Arlington Avenue, on Oct. 20.
On Friday, IMPD announced it had arrested Brione Jackson, 33, in the case.
Court records show Jackson had an open warrant for his arrest at the time of the shooting in connection robbery and battery charges from a February 2016 case.
As of Monday afternoon, Jackson was still awaiting formal charging in connection with Bailey’s murder.
Kelly Hudson, 39
On Saturday, IMPD announced it had arrested 39-year-old Kelly Hudson in connection with the death of 51-year-old Catherine Dunaway on Nov. 3.
Dunaway was found dead inside an apartment in the 3400 block of North Meridian Street.
Dunaway’s cause of death had still not been released. As of Monday afternoon, Hudson had not yet been formally charged.
MORE FROM THE CRIME BEAT | MAP: Indy's most dangerous neighborhoods | The Night the Sky Caught Fire: The Untold Stories of Richmond Hill | Convicted child molester reveals how he selected & groomed his victims | Teens killed man over weed and a pair of Air Jordans, police say | MAP: 2017 Indianapolis homicides
