In the quiet town of Superior, Wisconsin, the life of 20-year-old Garth Velin, a White male, was tragically cut short on the evening of September 30, 2014. A graduate of Superior High School and a former university student, Velin was known in his community for his involvement in coaching youth sports and his infectious smile. That fateful night, a sequence of events born from a plan to commit a robbery would end in his untimely death on the floor of his own home.
The plan was set in
motion when five young people, ranging in age from 17 to 20, traveled from Duluth, Minnesota, to Superior with the intention of robbing Velin, who they believed was a marijuana dealer. The group consisted of Chance Andrews, 17; Teah Phillips, 17; Kyham Dunn; and brothers Kane and Dallas Robinson. Phillips was instructed to approach Velin's residence first, using the ruse of looking for a lost dog to confirm he was home. After she signaled to the others, Andrews, Dunn, and Dallas Robinson proceeded to the house while Phillips and Kane Robinson waited in a nearby car.
Inside the home, the attempted robbery took a violent turn. Andrews, armed with a gun, confronted Velin. A struggle ensued over the weapon, and Velin was shot twice in the chest. His girlfriend, who was upstairs at the time, heard his cries and found him with a bullet hole in his chest. The three men fled the scene and returned to the car, telling the others that the plan "went bad." Andrews claimed the gun had gone off accidentally during the struggle.
In the aftermath, law enforcement quickly identified the suspects. Word of their involvement had begun to spread on social media, and tips led police to the five individuals. All five were charged in connection with the murder. Chance Andrews, the shooter, faced a felony murder charge and later pleaded guilty, receiving a 40-year sentence. Kane Robinson was found guilty of being party to the murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Kyham Dunn was acquitted of all charges. Teah Phillips and Dallas Robinson also faced charges for their roles in the crime. The investigation revealed that while there was evidence of illegal drug activity, the primary focus remained on the violent conclusion of the robbery.
