Police still investigating shooting that left 15-year-old dead; 6 suspects apprehended

MUNCIE, Ind. — The Muncie Police Department’s investigation of a shooting that left a 15-year-old dead earlier this month has now led to the apprehension of six suspects.

Previous reporting indicates police detained five suspects during their initial examination of the incident. An affidavit for probable cause released Friday showed that law enforcement has now taken a sixth suspect into custody.

Atrevion Lamar Nathan, 21, of Muncie was booked into the Delaware County Jail at 6 p.m. Thursday. K-Shaun English, 16, 17-year-old Robert Graham, 19-year-old Ricky Nathan, 19-year-old Dasha Lanise Eckford and an unnamed 14-year-old were all previously detained for their alleged roles in the shooting.

Atrevion Nathan has been preliminarily charged with conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury — a Level 2 Felony.

Police began to examine Atrevion Nathan’s potential role in the shooting after they received a tip on Wednesday that indicated he is the brother of one of the suspects they’d already apprehended — Ricky Nathan.

Atrevion Nathan was subsequently located and detained. The shooting he was allegedly involved in unfolded on Aug. 14.

Police were made aware of the shooting at 10:03 p.m. on that day. Court records show that officers received a call that indicated a loud “boom” noise was heard in the 2900 block of North Elgin Street.

When officers made it to the area, they found LataJohne Phillips suffering from gunshot wounds to his left leg and head.

Phillips was subsequently transported from the scene to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital. He was then transferred to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Phillips’ death was announced and ruled a homicide by the Marion County Coroner’s Office around 2 p.m. on Aug. 15.

Court records indicate Atrevion Nathan, Ricky Nathan, Graham, English and the unnamed 14-year-old may have ambushed Phillips. Police obtained security camera footage that showed six people leaving Elgin Manor Apartments — which is located in the 2500 block of Elgin Street — at approximately 9:44 p.m. on Aug. 14.

MPD reported that the individuals investigators observed in the video appeared to be walking toward The Latitude Apartments, which is where they eventually found Phillips with gunshot wounds.

Per court records, additional security video showed five of the same six individuals running back toward Elgin Manor Apartments from the direction of The Latitude Apartments around 9:55 p.m.

Footage also showed a sixth individual returning to Elgin Manor Apartments around 9:57 p.m.

Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Elgin Manor Apartments on Aug. 15. Soon after they obtained the warrant, police called five of the six individuals seen in security camera videos out of the apartment building — Graham, Ricky Nathan, English, Eckford and the unnamed 14-year-old.

Court documents show that, during a search of the apartment the suspects were called out of, investigators found several firearms and live rounds of 9mm ammunition. Police also recovered multiple spent shell casings and one live round of ammunition from the scene Phillips was shot at.

A few of the suspects police detained agreed to speak with them. One of the suspects indicated Graham and others were drinking the night Philips was shot.

According to court documents, while the suspects were drinking, Graham told everyone to “mask up.” He didn’t specify what the group was going to do that would require masks, but one of the individuals involved in the alleged incident told police they believed they were going somewhere to trade guns.

Per court records, another one of the suspects police interviewed indicated Graham said they were going to “make a play.” None of the individuals that agreed to talk to investigators claimed to have actually seen the shooting beyond the first shots being fired.

Below are the charges and booking photos for each of the individuals police detained during their investigation:

K-shaun English (Booking photo not available)

• Murder
• Robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Aiding, inducing or causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Obstruction of justice

Robert Graham (Booking photo not available)

• Murder
• Conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Aiding, inducting or causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Obstruction of justice

Dasha Eckford

• Conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Aiding, inducing or causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Obstruction of justice

Ricky Nathan

• Conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Aiding, inducing or causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury
• Obstruction of justice

Atrevion Nathan

• Conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury

Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman reported that his office is filing a petition with Indiana’s juvenile court system to obtain permission to press formal charges against the 14-year-old who was implicated in the shooting that left Phillips dead. Hoffman also indicated that current Indiana law prevents him from identifying the 14-year-old who police have detained.

Graham and English’s jury trials have been set for Feb. 18 and Feb. 11, respectively. Eckford’s initial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 29 at 8:30 a.m.

Court dates have not yet been set for Ricky and Atrevion Nathan. Hoffman has yet to release any additional information on the petition he is filing regarding police’s case against the unnamed 14-year-old.

Indiana’s public court reporting system indicates Atrevion Nathan had an active warrant for his arrest before police learned of his alleged involvement in Phillips’ death. In November 2023, Atrevion Nathan was charged with one count of domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury.

As of this article’s publication, no additional information on police’s investigation of the deadly shooting had been made available.

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