MUNCIE, Ind. — Police in Muncie are investigating after a 15-year-old died following a shooting Wednesday night.
The incident was reported around 10 p.m. Aug. 14 at The Latitude Apartments in the 2900 block of North Elgin Street, near East McGalliard Road.
According to court documents, a woman walking her dog said she heard a loud "boom" and found a person in a bush behind the front office of The Latitude Apartments.
Responding officers located the teen who had been shot. Court documents say he had gunshot wounds to his head and left leg.
He was taken in critical condition to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, where he was pronounced dead.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the deceased as Latajohne Phillips.
The Muncie Central High School football coach said Phillips was a freshman on the team.
Thursday afternoon, police announced the arrest of five people in connection to the incident. Those people – a 14-year-old, 16-year-old, 17-year-old and two 19-year-olds – were arrested on preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in death; aiding, inducing or causing an offense; and obstruction.
(NOTE: 13News does not name suspects until formal charges have been filed by prosecutors.)
According to court documents, surveillance video shows a group of six people leaving Elgin Manor Apartments around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday. Approximately 10 minutes later, five of the same people can be seen in surveillance video running back toward Elgin Manor Apartments from the direction of The Latitude Apartments.
Court documents say two minutes after the five people returned, the sixth person is seen walking back into Elgin Manor Apartments from the direction of The Latitude Apartments.
Officers spoke with a 19-year-old woman, who said she was walking with the group but did not go toward The Latitude Apartments because she "did not trust the situation," so she said she stopped where she was and waited for the males to return.
According to court documents, the 19-year-old woman told officers that she heard two gunshots and then saw all of the males return with "weird looks on their face." She claims she asked the males what happened, but she told officers that none of the males would tell her.
Court documents say officers asked the 19-year-old woman who had the gun among those in the surveillance video, and she allegedly pointed at one of the people under 18 years old.
Dr. Chuck Reynolds, director of public education and CEO of Muncie Community Schools, issued the following statement:
"Today’s news of the passing of one of our students has stunned many of us in the school district and the community. Our hearts go out to the student’s family and friends as they grieve this terrible loss. Counseling and support services will be available for any students in need of assistance. We appreciate the work of the Muncie Police Department, which continues to investigate this tragic situation."
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Muncie Police detectives at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.
Friday morning, Delaware County prosecutor Eric Hoffman shared the following statement with 13News regarding youth violence in Muncie:
"Muncie does indeed have a juvenile gang problem. The prosecutor’s office has been doing and will continue to do everything we can to stem the tide of gang activity and violence. However, we often run into problems enforcing the law because (1) unlike adults who are arrested, juvenile probation must approve placement in juvenile detention - that permission is not always granted, which creates a revolving door to the juvenile system and (2) unlike adult court, the prosecutor has to have the permission of the juvenile court to file charges. That permission is not always given - both are issues I have asked legislators to address."