A 17-year-old Nigerian teenager has been charged with murder following a fatal shooting on Indianapolis’ northwest side, police say.
Emmanuel Awobiyi, an Indianapolis resident, is accused of killing 38-year-old William E. Deaton II on September 30 along the 5200 block of Austral Drive, near the 56th Street exit off Interstate 465.
According to report, court documents, the incident started when Awobiyi got into an argument with a woman.
Witnesses say he became aggressive and pointed a gun at her, prompting her to call Deaton for help.
When Deaton arrived at the scene, Awobiyi allegedly opened fire, fatally shooting him. Medics pronounced Deaton dead on the spot.
Witnesses told police the teenager fled immediately after the shooting.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) detectives launched an investigation, gathering witness statements, security footage, and forensic evidence from the area.
Video footage reportedly captured Awobiyi walking down Austral Drive before entering a wooded area behind nearby houses.
Moments later, Deaton is seen getting out of his vehicle and running in the same direction, followed by the sound of several gunshots.
The footage then shows a suspect, identified as Awobiyi, running from the scene.
Police later executed a search warrant at Awobiyi’s home on Stanhope Way, where they found a firearm wrapped in plastic and hidden inside a toilet tank.
Officers arrested Awobiyi on October 20 after spotting him walking in the neighborhood. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to keeping a gun in his home.
Prosecutors formally charged him with murder, and his initial hearing took place on October 23. A remote attorney conference is scheduled for November 20.
Authorities haven’t revealed a specific motive, and the investigation is still ongoing.
