In a tragic and unforeseen act of violence, 23-year-old Shawn Barnett of Indianapolis was killed on January 12, 2023. On that Thursday, shortly before noon, Barnett and another man, 50-year-old Larry Moorman, were fatally shot in an apartment building on North Walcott Street. When police arrived at the scene near East Washington Street and North State Avenue, they discovered the two victims, one in a common area and the other inside an apartment unit.
The investigation into the double
homicide quickly led to a suspect, Jermaine Randle. A witness at the scene identified Randle and the vehicle he was driving. This witness reported hearing a man shouting from the victims' apartment, followed by the sound of several gunshots. Other witnesses also confirmed seeing Randle's vehicle arriving at and leaving the apartment complex.
Within hours of the shooting, law enforcement utilized license plate reader cameras to track down Randle's car. He and his girlfriend were located and taken into custody at a nearby laundromat. During police interviews, Randle reportedly exhibited erratic speech and behavior. According to court documents, a witness stated that the suspect said 'you raped my wife' before opening fire. Neighbors also reported that Randle had been displaying 'bizarre' behavior in the days leading up to the murders.
In April 2025, following a two-day jury trial, Jermaine Randle was convicted for the murders of Shawn Barnett and Larry Moorman. The following month, he was sentenced to 110 years in prison, receiving consecutive 55-year sentences for each murder. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears commented on the conviction, stating, 'Two innocent people were horrifically gunned down in their home as a result of the defendant's desire for unsubstantiated vengeance.' He also praised the witnesses for their commitment to seeing justice served for Barnett and Moorman.
