Guilty conviction for murder of 15-year-old in 2023

19-year-old convicted of murder in 2023 shooting

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A one-day jury trial found Wardell Wright, 21, guilty for an ambush that killed 15-year-old Jeremiah Lewis in 2023.

“Jeremiah was a bright young man who loved sports and had his entire life ahead of him when the defendants made the decision to senselessly take his life,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “Today marks a significant step toward accountability as the third and final defendant was convicted for his role in this horrific crime.”

Wright, who was 19-years-old at the time of the murder, planned the shooting with a 14-year-old girl and 19-year-old Brenden Dixson. The 14-year-old was charged for setting Lewis up for the shooting, and Dixson pled guilty for attempted robbery that resulted in serious bodily injury. However, Dixson also faces a charge for murder.

June 18, 2023, Lewis was found shot dead inside of a vehicle in a neighborhood near West 21st Street and North Girls School Road. Two days later, IMPD tracked down the suspects.

Police believe that Lewis’ death was targeted and that the 14-year-old set him up for the shooting.

During an interrogation, the 14-year-old told police that Wright and Dixson were the shooters. She said that they hid in the bushes near a traffic circle, waiting for Lewis to drive by. Once he did, Wright and Dixson knocked on Lewis’ car window to try to rob him.

Lewis pulled a gun, then was shot and killed.

IMPD says they didn’t find a gun on Lewis when investigating the scene. A neighbor caught video of the shooting, which showed Wright and Dixson shooting into Lewis’ car with an AR-style pistol and a handgun.

After the shooting, both the shooters took Lewis’ vehicle to flee.

IMPD says that Wright was wearing a GPS tracker during the murder, which placed him at the scene.

Wright’s sentencing is scheduled for June 12.

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