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Indianapolis man gets 60-years for murder of pizza delivery driver

LaVon Drake shot at east side apartment complex
Posted at 4:58 PM, Aug 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-28 16:58:37-04

INDIANAPOLIS—On August 20 of last year, 24-year-old LaVon Drake was delivering pizza in an east side Indianapolis neighborhood. He was murdered on the job.

Now, one of three suspects in the shooting has pleaded guilty to a murder charge. In Marion County Criminal Court Wednesday, 19-year-old Juwaun Terry was sentenced to 60-years in prison, with 10-years suspended.

The other two suspects, 19-year-old Jason Epeards and 20-year-old Jasean Dale have trials pending later this year.

According to a probable cause document, police arrived at the scene of a vacant house in the 11000 block of Kristen Circle to find Drake suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The neighborhood is near East 38th Street and North German Church Road.

Two witnesses told police they saw an unusual vehicle near the vacant house. Police found the vehicle a few blocks away, which led them to the three suspects, the document states.

In a police interview, Terry told investigators they forced Drake into the house, took the pizza, shot him, then robbed him. He then said they went to an apartment a few blocks away and ate the pizza together.