INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Murder charges have been filed against a man accused of fatally shooting another outside a south side bar minutes after he’d been kicked out for fighting.
The shooting happened around 1:35 a.m. Thursday outside of Mucky Duck Pub off East Southport Road and McFarland Boulevard.
IMPD’s Night Watch officers told News 8 when officers arrived, they found the man suffering a gunshot wound. The man, identified as Jereme Dillingham, 28, was rushed to a hospital, but died a short time later.
Detectives spoke with multiple witnesses at the scene, who eventually identified the shooter as 21-year-old Kaeden Douglas.
What detectives learned
During the investigation, court documents say police also reviewed security camera footage from the bar.
Around 10 p.m., police spotted Douglas on camera entering the bar with a female. Then at 1:30 a.m., Douglas suddenly “got up from his seat, threw a chair to the ground, and began shoving an unidentified male.”
Jereme Dillingham was seated at the same bar. Police say when the fight broke out, Dillingham jumped between the two men to try and break up the fight. Then, “after a brief exchange,” Douglas and Dillingham “shook hands and hugged.”
Dillingham was seen walking away as Douglas gets in a fight with bar staff, including a bouncer who removed him from the business. A physical fight between the pair happened outside as the bouncer guided Douglas to his Dodge Charger.
A few minutes later, Dillingham was seen crossing the parking lot and speaking with Douglas through the passenger’s side of the Charger. Douglas started to slowly drive away while Dillingham was still at the window.
A witness later told officers they heard the two men arguing, Douglas screaming and calling Dillingham the N-word.
Dillingham was then seen in the video reaching into the car window before quickly pulling back and turning toward a person standing behind him. Witnesses then reported hearing a gunshot.
Douglas speeds off through the parking lot, and Dillingham collapses. Bystanders provided medical aid until first responders arrived.
Multiple witnesses confirmed to police Douglas’ appearance and what car he drove. They described his behavior to police as “aggressive” and “obviously drunk,” frequently yelling and calling people slurs.
Douglas also threatened patrons, said the “N-word” with a “hard R” numerous times, and scared a female into running into the bar when she believed he was going to hurt her.
Police did not say if they interviewed the female who came to the bar with Douglas.
Douglas speaks with detectives
Investigators later tracked Douglas to his home on the southeast side and took him into custody without incident.
Douglas’ narrative of events frequently changed when speaking with detectives. Police say Douglas first claimed not remembering what happened at Mucky Duck, adding that he hadn’t been in a fight since the seventh grade.
This later changed to Douglas describing the events leading up to the fight, saying he remembered being hit but “he did not remember where he got hit, who hit him, or how many times he was hit.” He told police he didn’t remember anything until he got home.
Douglas’ drinking habits also evolved during the interview, ranging from being a “lightweight” to “(drinking) like a hog.” He said he believed he couldn’t remember anything at the bar because he “was either overserved, his drinks were heavy pours, he was intoxicated due to mixing ‘light and dark’ drinks, or that his drink was spiked.”
He claimed had anywhere from three to six drinks, mentioning “a beer and an unknown number of free shots.” His bar tab and witness statements later determined Douglas had three shots and ordered a fourth that he didn’t drink because he was kicked out.
When detectives asked if he was afraid for his life, Douglas said he was only afraid because he doesn’t like new places. He remained adamant that he acted in self-defense, but could not tell police what happened for him to act that way.
Douglas was arrested and booked into the Marion County jail without bond.
He was due in court for a hearing Tuesday afternoon.
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