Docs: 14-year-old arranged firearms transaction that led to deadly shooting

MUNCIE, Ind. — A 14-year-old in Muncie has been charged with murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.

According to court documents released Tuesday, Robert Wilson arranged a firearms transaction that ultimately led to the death of 15-year-old LataJohne Phillips. Previous reporting indicates Phillips was killed on Aug. 14.

Around 10:03 p.m. that day, police were called to the 2900 block of North Elgin Street because a resident had reported that she heard a loud “boom” noise in the area. When officers arrived at the scene, they located Phillips, who was suffering from one gunshot wound to his leg and two gunshot wounds to his face and head.

Photos of the scene where police found Phillips dead.

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

The Marion County Coroner’s Office reported Phillips’ death around 2 p.m. on Aug. 15. The coroner preliminarily ruled Phillips’ death a homicide.

In total, police have arrested six individuals for their alleged roles in Phillips’ death, including Wilson.

Police identified the individuals via security camera footage they obtained.

The video showed six individuals leave Elgin Manor Apartments and begin walking in the direction of The Latitude Apartments around 9:44 p.m. on Aug. 14. The footage also depicted five of the same six individuals running back toward Elgin Manor Apartments from the direction of the Latitude Apartments around 9:55 p.m.

Per court records, the video showed a sixth individual returning to Elgin Manor Apartments around 9:57 p.m.

Police found Phillips suffering from gunshot wounds near The Latitude Apartments sometime after 10:03 p.m.

The sixth individual police identified in the video was wearing distinct camo-striped pants and tan slippers. The person was also holding a blanket around his head.

As their investigation of the shooting continued, police began surveilling Elgin Manor Apartments. While they were conducting surveillance, officers saw a man walk outside the apartment complex wearing camo-striped pants and tan slippers.

Court records indicate that individual was detained by police and identified as 19-year-old Ricky Riheem Nathan. After they detained Nathan, police used a mobile public address system to order additional suspects out of the complex.

Counting Nathan and Wilson, officials have confirmed the identities of all six of the people they believe were implicated in Phillips death. The others police have arrested are:

• K-Shaun English, 16 years old
• Robert Graham III, 17 years old
• Dasha Lanise Eckford, 19 years old
• Atrevion Lamar Nathan, 21 years old

English and Graham have both been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, aiding, inducing or causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.

Ricky Nathan and Eckford have both been charged with conspiracy to commit armed robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, aiding, inducing or causing robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.

Previous reporting indicates Atrevion Nathan has only been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. Police believe Atrevion Nathan is Ricky Nathan’s brother.

A petition released Tuesday indicates Wilson may have instigated the six suspects’ ambush of Phillips. Forensic analyses of both Wilson and Phillips’ phones indicated Wilson discussed a firearms trade with Phillips via text before the shooting.

According to court documents, during their conversation, Phillips sent Wilson a photo of three firearms. Wilson then indicated he wanted two of three guns displayed in the picture.

Previous reporting shows that the suspects may have been drinking the night Phillips was shot. Court records indicated that, while the suspects were drinking, Graham told everyone to “mask up.”

Police reported that Graham never explicitly told the other suspects exactly what they were going to do that would require masks. One of the suspects police interviewed, however, suggested Graham said the suspects were going to “make a play.”

During their investigation, officers learned that, before the shooting happened, two males circled east toward Gillbeke Apartments and others headed toward a tree line between Cambridge Square Apartments and The Latitude Apartments. Both Cambridge Square Apartments and Gillbeke Apartments are located just off Elgin Street.

While the others scrambled through the area, two individuals, one of which is believed to be Wilson, approached Phillips and shot him.

Court records indicate Wilson later admitted to at least two people that he shot Phillips.

Police reported that Wilson was seen leaving the scene of the shooting with a black backpack he did not have before the incident unfolded. During a search of the Elgin Manor Apartments building the suspects were called out of after the shooting, police found two firearms that were supposed to have been involved in Phillips and Wilson’s proposed exchange hidden behind a water heater.

In addition to his involvement in Phillips’ death, Wilson had a previous run-in with law enforcement when he was 13.

Court documents indicate Wilson was previously adjudicated for resisting law enforcement and dangerous possession of a firearm. The charges stemmed from an incident where Wilson brought a gun to the Delaware County Fair.

An initial hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday in Wilson’s case. Atrevion Nathan, Ricky Nathan, Eckford, Graham and English will all go on trial in February.

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