15-Year-Old Shot, 17-Year-Old Charged With Murder

MUNCIE, Ind., — A 17-year-old has been charged with murder in Delaware County.

According to records issued by the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday afternoon, Robert Graham III now faces four felony counts, including murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily harm, conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.An unidentified 16-year-old has also been charged with robbery resulting in severe bodily harm, conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, assisting/inducing/causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman filed the charges against the two youths just six days after the shooting that killed 15-year-old LataJohne Phillips.

Late Wednesday around 10:00, the Muncie Police Department got a call reporting a loud “boom” noise near the 2900 block of North Elgin Street. When police arrived at the area to investigate the claim, they discovered Phillips with gunshot wounds to his left leg and head. Phillips was taken from the scene to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. He was later sent 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.

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Phillips may have been ambushed by five people at The Latitude Apartments. Police discovered security camera footage showing six people leaving Elgin Manor Apartments, situated on Elgin Street, late Wednesday around 9:45. They were walking in the direction of The Latitude Apartments.

Further footage showed five people running back toward the Elgin Manor Apartments. Cameras showed a sixth figure rushing back into Elgin Manor Apartments. The sixth suspect was dressed in camouflage-striped pants and tan slippers. The individual was also clutching a blanket over his head.

Officers detained the individual, who was identified as 19-year-old Ricky Riheem Nathan. After Nathan was apprehended, police began using a mobile public address system to force further suspects out of the premises.

Three people, including Robert Graham, exited the residence and surrendered to authorities.

The Delaware County Prosecutor stated that in addition to Graham, the 16-year-old and Nathan, 19-year-old Daisha Lanise Eckford, and an anonymous 14-year-old were also involved in the inquiry.