INDIANAPOLIS — A jury convicted two men late Thursday in the murder of an Indianapolis funeral home director.
Rev. James Dixon was shot and killed around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2022, right outside the Dixon Memorial Chapel. He had stopped at his business, which is near West 16th Street and Lafayette Road, on his motorcycle to get out of the rain.
Stacey Fuller and Jashon Wallace-Carswell were convicted Thursday night. Both men were found guilty on two counts of murder and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, while Fuller was also found guilty for armed robbery and criminal recklessness.
"Reverend Dixon was a beloved member of our community, who was known for putting others first and helping our neighbors say goodbye to loved ones," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. "Tragically, the senseless actions of the defendants led to his family and friends toiling with the same pain the Reverend was known for easing. We are grateful to have secured justice on behalf of Reverend Dixon and his family and our thoughts remain with them during this difficult time."
The prosecution told the jury in opening arguments that police were tracking the two men in a stolen car for hours and were about to pull them over and then witnessed the shooting before they could stop it.
Both men were arrested with guns just minutes after the shooting.
But Fuller's attorney said Dixon also had a gun and this was not a murder and the cops were too far away to see what was happening.
Wallace-Carswell's attorney suggested his client was just a passenger and did not take part in the crime.
Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 5.