On a Tuesday evening in New Castle, Indiana, Ernest D. Thornsbury, a 47-year-old White / Caucasian male, was shot and killed in what has been described as a random and senseless act of violence. The incident occurred on May 2, 2023, near the intersection of South 21st Street and A Avenue. Thornsbury was found lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound.
Despite being rushed to Henry Community Health, he succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of Ernest Thornsbury led New Castle police to a group of juveniles. Within a day, a 13-year-old boy, later identified as Quinton Marqtez Vann, was arrested and charged with murder. The investigation revealed that the shooting was the result of a random encounter. Another teenager, 15-year-old Adrian James Dukes, was also implicated in the crime for supplying the handgun used in the shooting. Both teenagers were subsequently charged as adults.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Adrian James Dukes entered into a plea agreement in April 2024. He pleaded guilty to the unlawful transfer of a handgun, and in exchange, the charge of aiding, inducing, or causing murder was dismissed. He was sentenced to twelve years in prison, with eight years to be executed and four years suspended to probation. Quinton Marqtez Vann's case was also transferred to adult court, and he faced a murder charge. His trial was scheduled to begin in March of the following year.
