Indianapolis News and Headlines

Actions

Suspect to plead guilty in 18-year-old's 2016 murder

Posted at 12:47 PM, Jul 24, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-24 12:51:27-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- Dion Beals agreed Friday to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal 2016 shooting of an 18-year-old.

Beals, 21, was arrested on a charge of murder in May 2016 in connection with the death of 18-year-old Floyd Teague V.

Teague was found lying outside a vehicle in the 2900 block of East 38th Street with a fatal gunshot wound.

His brother, also named Floyd Teague, told police he only heard one shot.

MORE | Family mourns murdered 18-year-old as arrest is made in his death

"We pulled up to get gas and I just heard a shot, one shot," his brother, Floyd Teague, said. "So when I turned and saw it, (I) heard some more shots and I took off running, (and) came back and he was (lying) there."

Beals’ jury trial was set to begin Monday, but on Friday, he agreed to plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter, a level 2 felony, in the case. Prosecutors in exchange agreed to drop lesser counts of escape and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

The plea agreement doesn’t specify a sentencing range. In Indiana, voluntary manslaughter is punishable by 10-30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A second murder case also scheduled to begin Monday, the trial of 22-year-old Larry Thomas for the murder of Rito Llamas-Juarez in February 2016, was granted a continuance and pushed back to September.

MORE FROM THE CRIME BEAT | Arrest made in 8-year-old Indianapolis cold case | Homicide victims rarely become organ donors. Scott Morin was one of the few | Greenwood man 'set up' for 2-year-old's false kidnapping a day before her guardianship hearing | At least 13 people overdosed in Indianapolis on Monday. It was an average day | Homicide Map so far in 2017