In the late hours of March 30, 2023, Stephen Flynn, a 57-year-old man from Greenwood, Indiana, was tragically shot and killed in Indianapolis. A loving husband and father of two, he had taken on a side job as a pizza delivery driver for Papa John's to earn extra money for his family. On that Thursday night, while out on a delivery, he became the victim of a violent robbery that ended his life over the price of a pizza.
The events unfolded in the 1400 block of Priscilla Avenue, near East
16th Street and North Arlington Avenue. Shortly after 11 p.m., police responded to a report of a person shot and found Flynn with apparent gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators soon discovered that Flynn had been making a delivery to what turned out to be a vacant home, a detail that pointed to a premeditated setup. Neighbors reported hearing an argument followed by a single gunshot before seeing Flynn's car being driven away from the scene.
The investigation quickly led police to a suspect, Justin Turner. A crucial piece of evidence was the pizza delivery order itself, which included a phone number that was traced back to him. Although the order was placed under the name 'Christopher Wallace,' the phone number provided the initial link. Further investigation revealed that Flynn's stolen car had a GPS device, which guided detectives to the parking lot of an apartment complex where the vehicle had been abandoned. Security footage from a nearby school and an assisted living facility showed a man, later identified as Turner, walking with pizza boxes. It was discovered that Turner had been staying with an aunt at the assisted living facility and was found asleep in the lobby the morning after the murder.
On April 11, 2023, Justin Turner was arrested. A search of his car uncovered a gun in the backseat. Forensic analysis confirmed that the shell casing found at the crime scene and the bullet fragment recovered from Flynn's body were fired from this weapon. Turner's DNA was also found on the firearm. During his bench trial in March 2025, prosecutors presented this evidence, along with a recording of the phone call made to order the pizza, in which the caller's voice matched a social media video of Turner.
The judge found Justin Turner guilty of murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. On May 16, 2025, Turner was sentenced to 63 years in prison for the senseless killing of Stephen Flynn.
