INDIANAPOLIS—After seeing his first trial end in a mistrial, 19-year-old Eric Morris has decided not to face a jury a second time.
Just days before his retrial was to start in Marion County Criminal Court, court records show Morris pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in the shooting death of a 15-year-old. He'll be sentenced in August.
Joshua Lutrell was shot in 2017 during what police said was a drug-related incident in the 3900 block of South Ewing Street on the city's southeast side.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Lutrell and two other teens intended to rob Morris of some marijuana because Morris had allegedly tried to rob one of their friends.
But things did not go as planned. Lutrell and the others were in a car when Morris allegedly opened fire, wounding Lutrell in the head. He died a short time later.
Police arrested Morris the next day at Southport High School.
He was originally charged with Murder, but under the terms of the plea agreement, will be sentenced on Voluntary Manslaughter charges.
