INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Prosecutor's Office filed formal charges against the suspect accused of killing two people, one of whom was an Indianapolis Fire Department firefighter, after they were found dead in a crashed car early New Year's Day on the city's northwest side.
According to IMPD, community members helped police locate the alleged suspect, 52-year-old Jason Lapsley, of Indianapolis, hours after the incident. IMPD then arrested Lapsley on preliminary murder charges. According to court documents, Lapsley is the brother of the firefighter killed.
Lapsley, who is facing two counts of murder, made his initial court appearance Friday morning.
Shortly after 5:45 a.m. on Jan. 1, police responded to a report of a vehicle crash at the intersection of Michigan Road and Grandview Drive, near West 51st Street.
Officers arrived and found a man and a woman who were in a pickup truck that had crashed off the road. An IMPD spokesperson confirmed both people died at the scene.
The Marion County Coroner's Office will determine the man and woman's exact manners and causes of death, but detectives believe both people were shot prior to the crash. Their deaths are being investigated as homicides.
The Indianapolis Fire Department confirmed later on Monday that one of the people who died was engineer Justin Boyd II, 45, who was known as "JB" on the force and worked on Ladder 6 B Shift.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the second victim as 42-year-old Jasmine Ivy-Dede.
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According to court documents, Lapsley told witnesses that he was supposed to be getting driven home by his brother. He allegedly said that when he woke up, he thought two different people were in the car with him — even saying he believed they had been carjacked.
Lapsley said he asked where his brother was and was told, "Don't worry about it. I'm taking you home." He claimed he then heard a clicking noise coming from the woman that he interpreted as her racking a gun. Lapsley allegedly said he pulled his gun and shot the man and woman in the back before running.
A witness also took cellphone video of Lapsley allegedly confessing and gave that to police.
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Boyd served on the department since May 27, 2014, and was a member of Recruit Class 79. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
IFD Chief Ernest Malone released the following statement following Boyd's death:
"We were devastated to hear of the tragic loss of our friend and fellow IFD firefighter, Justin Boyd. Justin was a well loved member of this department and proudly served for 10 years as a firefighter. Our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy, most especially his wife and 2 children. Our heartfelt thoughts also go out to the family of the other victim involved in this tragedy. Please know you have our prayers as well. For those of us who served with Justin, we are at a complete loss for words. He will be sorely missed."
The department said Boyd worked at Station 6 and was a mentor to new recruits.
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Boyd was born and raised in Fort Wayne and attended Ft. Wayne North Side High School. He went on to attend the University of Findlay and the University of St. Francis, but he did not earn a degree.
He also spent time as an assistant football coach at Northwest High School and had coached little league football for the Pike Township Football League.
The department said Boyd was a professional barber for over 26 years and co-owned the Universal Barbershop.
Boyd was an active member of the Indianapolis Black Firefighters Association, the IFD basketball team, and participated for many years as part of the Dress For Success event as a firefighter escort for the models on stage. Boyd was also part of the IFD Deputy Fire Marshal team, which works events and football games at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Calling hours will be Jan. 13 from 9 a.m.-noon at Grace Apostolic Church 649 E. 22nd St. in Indianapolis. The funeral service will follow the calling hours.
Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call Det. Michael Wright at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email the detective at Michael.Wright@indy.gov. Tips can also be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.