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Drug-related shooting death sends young Indianapolis man to prison

Victim was 15-years-old
Posted at 1:56 PM, Aug 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-14 13:56:07-04

INDIANAPOLIS—A young Indianapolis man is going to prison for 20-years, for the shooting death of a 15-year-old.

19-year-old Eric Morris was sentenced Wednesday in Indianapolis. In a plea deal, a murder charge was dropped and Morris pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter. His sentence is 20-years behind bars and two-years in community corrections.

A trial for Morris in June ended in a mistrial. Before a second trial could be held, Morris agreed to plead guilty to the lesser manslaughter charge.

19-year-old Eric Morris allegedly shot Joshua Lutrell during a 2017 drug-related incident in the 3900 block of South Ewing Street on the city's southeast side.

The trial, before Marion County Criminal Court Judge Lisa Borges, began Monday.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Lutrell and two other teens told friends they were going to rob Morris of some marijuana because Morris had allegedly tried to rob one of their friends.

But things did not go as planned.

Lutrell and the others were in a car when Morris allegedly opened fire, striking Morris in the head.

Police arrested Morris the next day at Southport High School.