Indiana man gunned down Lyft driver, stole vehicle to visit family, court documents say

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis gentleman is accused of shooting a Lyft driver various moments before thieving his auto, acquiring new seat addresses to conceal the blood stains and then driving the dead man’s car or truck to northern Indiana to show up at a spouse and children perform.

Devin Powell, 24, faces preliminary costs of murder and theft in connection to the shooting death of 34-12 months-outdated Anthony Garland.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Law enforcement Department, officers have been dispatched to Indy’s west facet at 6 a.m. on June 30. Firefighters had reportedly been responding to a run in the region and found a deceased male lying in a grassy space in the vicinity of the roadway.

The deceased, later determined as Garland, was found to have a gunshot wound to his head and many other gunshot wounds to his body. Police also observed a bloody plastic glove, comparable to kinds made use of in food items services, lying subsequent to Garland’s physique, court files reveal.

Investigators later determined that Garland was a Lyft driver who had been reported lacking by his wife the night time ahead of his system was found. Law enforcement have been in a position to use automobile data acquired by Lyft to keep track of Garland’s missing white 2013 GMC Acadia to Merrillville, Indiana.

Detectives in Merrillville detained Powell who experienced even now been in possession of Garland’s car or truck.

Courtroom documents expose Powell originally instructed police he experienced been going for walks on a highway when he observed the white Arcadia functioning with the door open and no one particular inside of. Powell told police he hopped in the auto and drove absent but only later discovered a person was uncovered dead in close proximity to the motor vehicle.

Detectives, nonetheless, realized that Powell experienced utilized his Lyft account to buy a trip that Garland answered.

Powell then changed his tale, courtroom documents reveal, admitting to investigators he had used his Lyft account to call for a trip as very well as admitting to taking pictures Garland. Powell, even so, informed law enforcement that Garland experienced attempted to “screw him about and choose his money” and that he had shot Garland immediately after the driver turned about and tried using to pull funds from his hand. Powell termed taking pictures Garland numerous occasions “self-protection,” according to the files.

Powell then admitted to pulling Garland’s physique out of the auto, dumping him in the grass and getting the Arcadia. Powell, who lived in an apartment only 100 yards from the fatal shooting, then reportedly bought new seat handles for the Arcadia, changed outfits, vacuumed up shell casings and used the motor vehicle to generate to a loved ones function in Merrillville.

Law enforcement reported there ended up nonetheless blood stains on the center console when detectives observed the Arcadia and arrested Powell.