Court docs: Indy man gunned down Lyft driver, stole vehicle to visit family

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man is accused of taking pictures a Lyft driver various instances ahead of stealing his auto, getting new seat handles to disguise the blood stains and then driving the useless man’s car or truck to northern Indiana to go to a spouse and children functionality.

Devin Powell, 24, faces preliminary costs of murder and theft in relationship to the taking pictures death of 34-yr-outdated Anthony Garland.

Devin Powell

In accordance to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Office, officers have been dispatched to Indy’s west aspect near the Waterfront Pointe residences — in the spot of Waterfront Parkway W. Travel and Rolling Dunes Generate — at 6 a.m. on June 30. Firefighters experienced reportedly been responding to a operate in the region and located a deceased man lying in a grassy spot close to the roadway.

The deceased, afterwards discovered as Garland, was identified to have a gunshot wound to his head and a number of other gunshot wounds to his entire body. Law enforcement also uncovered a bloody plastic glove, related to kinds utilised in foodstuff assistance, lying future to Garland’s entire body, court documents reveal.

Investigators later on established that Garland was a Lyft driver who had been noted lacking by his wife the night ahead of his human body was identified. Law enforcement have been equipped to use automobile data obtained by Lyft to keep track of Garland’s lacking white 2013 GMC Acadia to Merrillville.

Detectives in Merrillville detained Powell who experienced nonetheless been in possession of Garland’s motor vehicle.

Courtroom documents reveal Powell initially advised law enforcement he had been walking near Waterfront Parkway when he found the white Acadia functioning with the door open up and no one particular inside of. Powell explained to law enforcement he hopped in the motor vehicle and drove absent but only later learned a man was located dead near the motor vehicle.

Detectives, even so, understood that Powell experienced applied his Lyft account to order a journey that Garland answered.

Powell then adjusted his story, court docket paperwork expose, admitting to investigators he experienced made use of his Lyft account to phone for a trip as nicely as admitting to shooting Garland. Powell, however, informed law enforcement that Garland experienced tried out to “screw him more than and get his money” and that he had shot Garland after the driver turned around and experimented with to pull revenue from his hand. Powell called taking pictures Garland multiple situations “self-defense,” in accordance to the paperwork.

Powell then admitted to pulling Garland’s overall body out of the car or truck, dumping him in the grass and taking the Acadia. Powell, who lived in an condominium only 100 yards from the deadly taking pictures, then reportedly bought new seat addresses for the Acadia, changed clothing, vacuumed up shell casings and used the motor vehicle to drive to a spouse and children function in Merrillville.

Law enforcement said there have been even now blood stains on the centre console when detectives located the Acadia and arrested Powell.