WESTFIELD — An Indianapolis man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a Westfield man, whom police say he owed money.
Ronald D. Brown Jr., 50, was arrested in connection with the death of 47-year-old James "Matt" Lushin on March 12, Westfield officials announced Monday.
Police found Lushin shot multiple times in the kitchen of his Westfield Road home during a welfare check after a friend saw his body through the back door.
According to a probable cause affidavit, police believe Brown killed Lushin to eliminate a substantial drug debt.
Friends told investigators that Lushin fronted Brown between $20,000 and $70,000 worth of marijuana to sell, according to the affidavit.
Officers discovered marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and $15,950 in cash throughout the home.
Court records show Brown had been making regular payments to Lushin through CashApp for more than a year, totaling $17,900. The payments stopped after March 5.
Surveillance footage and license plate readers tracked Brown's movements on the day of the murder. Brown allegedly rented a black Dodge Durango on March 11 and was captured on cameras driving past Lushin's home multiple times in the early morning hours of March 12.
Ring doorbell footage shows the Durango backed into Lushin's driveway around 9:54 a.m. and left about 20 minutes later, according to court documents. Police said Brown had covered the rental car's license plate during the crime but removed it afterward.
Brown flew to Texas hours after the murder, according to police. He was arrested when he returned to Indianapolis.
A search of Brown's Butler Avenue home turned up a 9mm handgun, ammunition, several pounds of marijuana and more than $22,000 in cash.
Court documents revealed Lushin was well-known in the poker community with more than $511,000 in live tournament earnings. He had recently finished fourth in a World Series of Poker Circuit event in Amsterdam.
Brown declined to provide a statement after his arrest. He faces a murder charge with a firearm enhancement.
This incident is still under active investigation.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to reach out to Detective Sergeant Marlow at gmarlow@westfield.in.gov.
