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Baby-faced teen is unmasked as gunman behind triple murder that sparked serial killer fears in small Indiana town
A baby-faced teen has been unmasked as the gunman who took the lives of three young men in Indiana in 2021.
Caden Smith, now 19, was convicted in the shooting deaths of Michael James Jr, 22, Joseph Thomas, 18 and Abdullah Mubark, 17, on Monday, according to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office.
On October 12, 2021, an off-duty police officer discovered their bodies and several fired shell casings in a wooded area near South Meridian Street and West Hanna Avenue - sparking concerns of a serial killer in Indianapolis.
The prosecutor's officer identified Smith, then 16, as the killer after learning he took the boys to the field that night 'to show them how Glock switch works,' and discovering communication he had with the victims.
'It was a long and challenging road for these families, but thanks to the steadfast commitment of the investigators, deputy prosecutors, and the multitude of agencies, justice has been secured for Abdullah, Joseph, Michael, and their families,' Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
Caden Smith (pictured), now 19, was convicted in the shooting deaths of Michael James Jr, 22, Joseph Thomas, 18 and Abdullah Mubark, 17, on Monday
Smith murdered Michael James Jr, 22 (left), Joseph Thomas, 18 (right) and Abdullah Mubark, 17 (not pictured)
In 2022, a judge said detectives violated Smith's Fourth Amendment right after executing a search warrant. Key evidence was then thrown out in the case, while Mmith was released with a GPS ankle monitor and was restricted from leaving the state.
After he was initially set free, James' mother, Gladys Larsen, explained her anger with the justice system.
'We did not want Caden Smith released, because once again, we are back here having another conversation about this kid and his crimes,' Larsen told WTHR.
It wasn't long before police found that Smith violated his release order after finding Snapchat images of him posing with guns and doing drugs.
He was arrested on his 18th birthday at his home, where police say they found guns, drugs and ammunition.
Smith was charged with dealing marijuana, visiting a common nuisance, invasion of privacy and violating his pretrial release conditions.
After being set free in 2022 with an GPS ankle monitor on him, detectives soon uncovered Snapchat images of him holding a gun in his hand and smoking marijuana
Smith is seen smoking a blunt in another image
At the time, the murderer's attorney, David Hennessy, argued that the guns weren't in his clients possession.
'They have to prove he possessed it, not that he was just in some house where there happened to be guns that were not out in the open,' Hennessey told WTHR.
When asked about the Snapchat photos of Smith smoking and holding up a gun Hennessey didn't seem as confident.
'Yeah, I'm gonna have to have a young person walk me through Snapchat,' he said before walking away.
Smith has been charged with three counts of murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of robbery resulting in a serious bodily injury, one count of dangerous possession of a machine gun, one misdemeanor count of dangerous possession of a firearm, one count of possession of methamphetamine, one misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana and one ne misdemeanor count of resisting law enforcement.
'Abdullah’s, Joseph’s, and Michael’s families will never be able to see them grow up and live their lives.
Smith is expected to 'spend the rest of his life in prison.' A court date had not yet been scheduled for him
'This verdict solidifies that Smith will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes he committed,' Mears said at the time.
A court date for Smith's sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
In March, a gunman filmed himself opening fire in a Kroger supermarket in Fort Wayne, Indiana after hunting around the store for 'someone good' - and failing to hit them.
Richard Klaff, 20, recorded the shooting on Facebook Live as he prepared for and carried out the attack at the store.
He began about 6.15pm on May 23 by lighting up a cigar in a bathroom upstairs from the Georgetown Kroger, claiming 'I'm gonna shoot 11 people... watch.'
Klaff cocked the pistol several times before heading downstairs and wandering around the supermarket looking for the right target.
'Which one am I gonna choose? Let me find someone good real quick, I ain't gonna kill no old-a** man,' he said.
Klaff eventually spotted a black woman at what appeared to be a deli or bakery counter, and marked her for death.
'Oh yeah, I see one, I see one,' he said, then fired six rounds at her, all of which missed and no one was injured.
His chosen target raised fears that the shooting was racially motivated, but it was not clear whether this was the case, or if she was the first black shopper he saw.
The gunman fled the store after firing as the video ended. He was arrested in another store nearby soon after the shooting.
He was charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and locked up in the Allen County Jail.