SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Smith Mischler on Monday filed additional charges, including murder, against the two suspects in the shooting death of a 15-year-old in Carlisle, Ind. earlier this year.
Originally, Kyle Ray Johnson, 20, and Matthew Todd Earle, 23, were both facing charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and obstruction of justice. However, the two men are now being charged with murder, attempted murder, carrying a handgun within 500 feet of a school and pointing a firearm.
The charges stem from a shooting incident involving the two men and Mezmariah L. Wilson of Shelburn, Ind. Wilson, 15, was shot and killed on June 10 in Carlisle during a large gathering of two separate groups, according to Indiana State Police.
According to ISP Sgt. Matt Ames, the shooting happened at 12:01 a.m. at the corner of Lewis and Ledgerwood streets. Police told MyWabashValley.com that it was believed that “an altercation was going to occur” at that place; however, an individual soon fired multiple shots into the opposing group and hit Wilson, Ames said.
Wilson was taken to Sullivan County Community Hospital and then flown to a hospital in Indianapolis, where she was pronounced dead. Earle, a Terre Haute resident, and Johnson, a Coal City resident, were taken into custody two days later on June 12 after being discovered by police inside a residence on 12th Street.
Since the initial charges were filed, the Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office and the ISP said they have been actively investigating the case and reviewing evidence received from various search warrants.
“The Putnamville State Police detectives have worked diligently in gathering information and evidence in reference to this case,” ISP Sgt. Ames said. “They have conducted numerous interviews and collected additional evidence. At the conclusion of all this information being gathered, they were able to present it to the Sullivan County Prosecutor Ann Smith Mischler and the additional charges have been filed in reference to this case.”
According to a news release, a probable cause affidavit from ISP Trooper Detective Jason Schoffstall was filed on Nov. 8 with the Sullivan Superior Court in Johnson’s case and in Sullivan Circuit Court for Earle’s case. The State of Indiana was requesting the courts find probable cause for the additional charges.
Judge Hugh R. Hunt and Judge Robert E. Hunley, according to the release, both found probable cause for the issuance of arrest warrants. Both Johnson and Earle are currently being held in custody on the original charges and will now be held without bond for the additional charges, police said.
