Man involved in fatal shooting at JD’s Pub takes plea deal

INDIANAPOLIS — Herschel Anderson, the man involved in the 2022 shooting death of 27-year-old Deja Morse, has taken a plea deal.

According to Indiana’s public court reporting system, the murder charge Anderson was facing was dropped as part of the plea deal. Anderson, however, pleaded guilty to carrying a handgun with a prior felony conviction and reckless homicide.

Anderson was sentenced to six years with the Indiana Department of Correction, though 782 days of his sentence were suspended.

Previous reporting indicates Anderson was involved in a dispute with a person at JD’s Pub on April 2, 2022. That spat spilled into the pub’s parking lot, and reportedly led to Anderson and at least one other individual brandishing firearms.

Eventually, shots were fired and Morse was hit by the gunfire. Investigators believed Morse was trying to break up the fight when she was shot.

Police ultimately deduced that Anderson was the one who shot Morse.

Investigators determined Morse was shot in the back, and at the time of the shooting, her back was turned toward Anderson. Morse was facing the other suspects allegedly involved in the incident when she was shot, and for that reason, police believe it would have been difficult for anyone but Anderson to strike Morse in the back.

During his interview with police after the shooting, Anderson said he did not have a gun because convicted felons aren’t allowed to have firearms. He also reportedly said he didn’t remember getting into a fight at JD’s Pub the night of the shooting.

A previous report indicates JD’s Pub was operating without licenses at the time of the shooting. In April 2022, the Pike Township fire marshals office issued a closure order against JD’s Pub.

When searched on Google, JD’s Pub is listed as “permanently closed.”

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