NORTH VERNON — Detectives investigating the Monday shooting death of 23-year-old Donavon Booker in Country Squire Lakes were able to make a quick arrest after learning the incident was filmed by home security cameras on Squire Lakes Boulevard.
A Jennings Circuit Court probable cause affidavit filed by Prosecutor Brian Belding stated a DVR system from the home where the shooting occurred at 3972 Squire Lakes Blvd. had multiple working cameras filming when Booker was shot and killed at about 7 p.m. Monday.
Stephon Moore, 30, Louisville, Kentucky, was arrested Tuesday in Louisville and charged with Booker’s murder, and two additional counts of attempted murder in the shooting incident, Jennings County Sheriff deputies said. Moore is being held in a Louisville jail pending extradition to Jennings County, deputies said.
Two other individuals were detained by Louisville Metro Police, and another person is being sought for questioning, Jennings sheriff’s deputies said. Their names are not being released as they are “detained” and not arrested, according to deputies.
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The video of the incident shows a light-colored, four-door passenger car pulling into the driveway of 3972 Squire Lakes Blvd., with four individuals getting out of the vehicle, the affidavit states.
An altercation begins, and during the course of the altercation, a black male with shoulder-length hair shoots a pistol at three different male subjects in the driveway area of the home, the affidavit states. Witnesses said the shoulder-length hair was dreadlocks, according to the affidavit.
After the shooting, the four individuals are seen getting back into the car and leaving the area, according to the affidavit.
Two spent shell casings were recovered by Indiana State Police evidence technicians in the driveway area where Booker’s body was found, the affidavit states. The spent shell casings were identified as coming from a 9 mm weapon, according to the affidavit.
Investigators said the car was a silver Chrysler 200 with Illinois registration, with witnesses identifying two of the occupants as Destiny and Frank Bailey.
Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman began investigating social media posts involving the Baileys to determine if anyone matched the description of the shooter in the video, the affidavit states. Stephon Moore was identified as an individual who matched the description given by witnesses at the scene, the affidavit states.
Numerous interviews were conducted to verify Moore’s identity and to place him in Jennings County at the time of the shooting, according to the affidavit.
One witness told detectives that he had observed the silver Chrysler 200 with Kentucky license plates pick up Frank Bailey on Monday, with a female driving the vehicle and a male with dreadlocks in the passenger seat. The witness said Frank Bailey got into the back seat of the vehicle, and that within a few minutes the witness heard gunshots coming from the area where Booker was shot, the affidavit states.
The witness also told detectives that Frank Bailey had gone to the Squire Lakes Boulevard earlier and made statements that he had been jumped by four people at the residence where the shooting occurred for supposedly touching a woman named “Trinity.”
Witnesses to the shooting said they told police that the shooting was about leaving a girl alone, which then turned into a “big ordeal.”
Keith Rutherford, who lives two doors down from where the shooting occurred, said the disagreement about the girl did not involve Booker and that Booker was “just a bystander” when the shooting occurred and he was killed.
Rutherford said witnesses told him that the people in the silver Chrysler had shot at Booker and two other males, but only Booker was hit.
In addition to the information about the woman, an anonymous tipster told detectives that Moore was involved in the transportation and distribution of “ice,” and drives a silver Chrysler 200, the affidavit states. The tip said Moore obtains “ice,” which is a form of methamphetamine also referred to as crystal, crystal meth or d-meth. It is considered to be the purest and most potent form of methamphetamine, according to federal drug officials.
Moore was later identified in a photo array by witnesses to the shooting as the person who shot Booker in the driveway of the home on Squire Lakes Boulevard, the affidavit states.
Jennings officials said Moore was not in their custody as of Wednesday afternoon, and Louisville Metro Police jail records indicate Moore is still in custody in Louisville.
In a news release after the shooting, Freeman said Booker was shot in the upper torso area. After the shooting, Booker was taken to St. Vincent Jennings Hospital where he was pronounced dead Monday night, deputies said.
An autopsy was conducted Wednesday morning on Booker, but results were not immediately available, according to the Jennings County Coroner’s office.
Booker, who had attended Jennings County High School, had started a new job at Hilex Poly Co. in North Vernon in February.
Funeral services for Booker are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home in North Vernon, with visitation on Friday afternoon.
