Indianapolis, IN
Cell phone records, social media accounts and witnesses helped solved 2021 double homicide
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police used cell phone records, social media messages and witnesses to track down a man they say killed two other young men in 2021.
Eric Colvin Jr., 18, and Justice Wills, 22, were shot to death in June 2021 as they sat in a car in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 9800 block of Woodsmall Drive on the far east side.
Marion County prosecutors say Lamar Ball met the men that night and killed them.
Vic Ryckaert/WRTV
“This was a case that really came down to technology,” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Detective Larry Craciunoiu told WRTV.
Craciunoiu worked the crime scene on the night Colvin and Wills died.
Over the next several months, according to a probable cause affidavit, Craciunoiu obtained search warrants for cell phone records and social media messages that led him to witnesses who helped him identify the suspect.
Provided by Kendra Tate.
“In the real world though, one of the biggest things that we need is a witness in the community or someone in the community that knows something and is willing to help us help them, keep their community safe,” Craciunoiu said.
Ten minutes before the killings, prosecutors say someone sent Colvin the Woodsmall Drive address in a Snapchat message and said “I’m out front.”
Provided by Dana Croom.
Craciunoiu traced the phone number associated with that Snapchat account to a witness who had been assigned the number after the homicides.
After seeking another search warrant, Craciunoiu learned that the person who had the phone number at the time of the murders was Ball.
Craciunoiu, according to the probable cause affidavit, later spoke to a witness who said Ball had confessed to the killings.
“Yeah,” the witness told Craciunoiu according to the affidavit, “he told me about killing those two kids.”
Ball, according to the affidavit, told the witness he threw the murder weapon into a body of water. Police found bullet casings at the scene and in the car, but have not found the gun.
Craciunoiu interviewed Ball in January 2022, but he said he couldn’t remember anything about the night of the killings. He claimed to have had six or seven different cell phone numbers throughout 2021. The interview ended when Ball requested an attorney. He was not arrested at that time, records show.
Over the next several months, Craciunoiu found two more witnesses who helped linked Ball to phone numbers and addresses associated with the killings.
In October 2022, Craciunoiu finally gathered enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant.
The U.S. Marshals Service tracked Ball to Los Angeles, Ca. where they arrested him on May 23 — nearly two years after Colvin and Wills were killed.
Police say Ball tried to run away and two LAPD officers were injured during the arrest.
Vic Ryckaert/WRTV
Kendra Tate, Colvin’s mother, said she appreciates the months of work Craciunoiu devoted to solving the case and is grateful for the witnesses who helped.
“I’m thankful to them, whoever they are, that someone did decide to speak up and say something,” Tate said. “I think a lot more of that needs to happen in our community so we can get some of these other cases solved and bring some of the other moms closure and justice as well.”
Ball, 33, has been charged with two counts of murder and is being held int he Marion County Jail, records show. His trial is set to begin on Aug. 28.
Contact WRTV reporter Vic Ryckaert at victor.ryckaert@wrtv.com or on Twitter: @vicryc.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each and every Saturday, WISH-TV highlights a local company together with our partners at Indiana Grown.
This week, Jaime and Matt Lamping with 8th Day Distillery in Indianapolis joined News 8 at Daybreak.
The Lampings share with News 8 what started their passion for the distillery, and elaborate on how Indiana’s state laws at the time impacted their plans.
They also share more about their Bottle Shop & Cocktail Bar, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. They discuss their various workshops and show off new releases ready to hit your shelves this year.
Watch the full interview above to learn more.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly promoting one of their top pitching prospects in their minor league system, getting him closer to the MLB.
Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reported that the Pirates will promote right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler from Double-A Altoona Curve to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
Sources: Top Pirates prospect Bubba Chandler is being promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Chandler tossed seven innings of one run ball tonight for Altoona. He has pitched to a 2.61 ERA with 10.6 K/9 since the start of June.
Chandler is ranked as @MLBPipeline‘s No. 49 prospect. — Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) August 3, 2024
Chandler played for North Oconee High School in Bogart, Ga., 60 miles east of Atlanta. He starred in multiple sports, including basketball, golf, football and baseball. He originally committed to Georgia to play baseball, but then decommitted and committed to Clemson to play both football and baseball.
He had a fantastic senior season for North Oconee, going 8-1 with just a 1.25 ERA, plus 96 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched, while hitting .411 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and 35 RBI.
The Pirates would select Chandler with the No, 72 overall pick in the Third Round of the 2021 MLB Draft and signed him for $3 millon signing bonus, an over slot signing.
He pitched and also played shortstop for the Rookie-Level Florida Complex Pirates in 2021 and 2022 and then earned promotion to the Bradenton Marauders in the Single-A Florida State League.
Chandler chose to focus on pitching heading into the 2023 season, which would show his best talents. He started 24 games for the Greensboro Grasshoppers in High-A, with a 9-4 record, 4.75 ERA in 106.0 innings pitched, making 120 strikeouts to 51 walks and holding hitters to a .265 batting average.
He made it up to Altoona for just one game in 2023, allowing just one hit in five innings of work and getting the win.
Chandler has played all of 2024 in Double-A, starting 16 of 19 games, a 6-7 record, one save, one shutout. He also had a 3.70 ERA in 80.1 innings pitched, allowing 55 hits, 33 earned runs and 26 walks, while making 94 strikeouts and holding hitters to a .192 batting average, along with having a 1.01 WHIP.
His last start came Friday night against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, allowing just two hits and one run in 6.0 innings pitched, while making six strikeouts on 80 pitches.
Chandler has also pitched great since the start of June, with a 2.61 ERA and 10.6 K/9.
MLB Pipeline ranks Chandler as the No. 49 prospect in their top 100 across baseball, the No. 9 right-handed pitcher and No. 12 pitcher. They also rate him as the highest Pirates prospect.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates.
INDIANAPOLIS — The downtown Indy building Claypool Court is getting a new retailer.
Officials hope major names like Burlington will bring more Hoosiers and visitors to Mile Square.
WRTV
“There’s definitely a lot of higher-end restaurants right around this area, so I think bringing in some retail stores isn’t a bad idea,” Wesley Slaughter, who lives downtown, said.
The store will sit at Washington and Illinois Streets, an area Slaughter says will be a good fit because it’s a heavily trafficked intersection.
WRTV
“I could see it being beneficial to get more people in the area because otherwise you have to drive outside of 465 just to hit one of those stores,” Slaughter said.
TJ Maxx has been a big part of the downtown retail scene for many years, but now there is some competition with the Burlington that’s going to be a couple of doors down.
WATCH RELATED COVERAGE | Downtown Indy’s Future Plans announced
Downtown Indy’s future plans announced
“We’re excited anytime that there’s a new addition to the retail landscape here in downtown Indianapolis,” Taylor Schaffer, with Downtown Indy Inc., said.
Schaffer says this is just part of a pipeline of new projects and development coming to the area.
WRTV
The space Burlington will take over is the lower level of Claypool Court. It used to be home to the Rhythm! Discovery Center.
The store is set to open this fall.
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