MUNCIE, Ind. — A 17-year-old has been charged with murder in Delaware County.
Records released by the Delaware County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday afternoon indicate Robert Graham III now faces four felony charges: Murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
A 16-year-old — who FOX59 and CBS4 have chosen not to name in compliance with company policy — has also been charged with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, aiding/inducing/causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman brought the charges against the two juveniles just six days after a shooting that left 15-year-old LataJohne Phillips dead.
According to court documents, around 10:03 p.m. on Aug. 14, the Muncie Police Department received a call about a loud "boom" noise that was heard in the 2900 block of North Elgin Street. When police arrived at the scene to investigate the report, they found Phillips suffering from gunshot wounds to his left leg and head.
Phillips was transported from the scene to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. He was later transferred to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis.
The Marion County Coroner's Office reported Phillips' death around 2 p.m. on Aug. 15, ruling it a homicide.
Court records indicate Phillips may have been ambushed by five individuals at The Latitude Apartments. Security camera footage police obtained depicted six people leaving Elgin Manor Apartments — which is located in the 2500 block of Elgin Street — around 9:44 p.m. on Aug. 14. Those individuals were walking in the direction of The Latitude Apartments.
Additional footage showed five people running back toward Elgin Manor Apartments around 9:55 p.m. Cameras caught a sixth individual running back into Elgin Manor Apartments at 9:57 p.m.
The sixth individual, according to court records, was wearing distinct camo-striped pants and tan slippers. The person was also holding a blanket around his head.
Police began surveilling Elgin Manor Apartments after the shooting unfolded. While they were conducting surveillance, they observed a man walking out of an apartment building wearing camo-striped pants and tan slippers.
Officers subsequently arrested the man and identified him as 19-year-old Ricky Riheem Nathan. After they detained Nathan, police began to use a mobile public address system to order additional suspects out of the building.
Three individuals, including Robert Graham, left the apartment and surrendered to officers.
The Delaware County Prosecutor indicated that, in addition to Graham, the 16-year-old and Nathan, 19-year-old Daisha Lanise Eckford and an unnamed 14-year-old were also implicated in police's investigation.
Nathan and Eckford have both been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, aiding/inducing/causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
Hoffman indicated that his office is filing a petition with Indiana's juvenile court system in an attempt to gain permission to press formal charges against the 14-year-old. Hoffman also indicated that Indiana law prevents him from releasing the 14-year-old's name.
After the suspects were detained, police executed a search warrant on the apartment they were found in. Court records show investigators found several firearms and live rounds of 9mm ammunition. Officers also recovered multiple spent shell casings and one live round of ammunition from the area where Phillips was shot.
All of the charges Hoffman has filed against Nathan, Graham, Eckford and the 16-year-old are pending in Delaware County Circuit Court No. 5. Judge Thomas A. Cannon is expected to set each case for an initial hearing soon.
Graham and the 16-year-old's bonds were set at $95,000. Nathan and Eckford's were set at $65,000 and $30,000, respectively.