On an April afternoon in 2022, a young man's life was cut short in a quiet alley in Hammond, Indiana. Amarion Holmes, a 20-year-old male, had driven his white Hyundai sedan to the 800 block of Drackert Street for what he believed was a prearranged marijuana sale. He was instead lured into a deadly trap.
The events leading to his death began with a conversation on a messaging app. Davon Nathaniel Jones, then 18, and a friend had been discussing committing robberies.
Jones then contacted Holmes to set up the supposed drug transaction, directing him to the alley. Shortly after Holmes arrived, witnesses reported hearing a gunshot and seeing a man dressed in all-black clothing with a ski mask walking away from the scene.
Responding to reports of shots fired, police and paramedics discovered Holmes slumped in the driver's seat of his car, which was still in drive with his foot on the brake. He had been shot three times, with wounds to his head and shoulder. His wallet and identification were missing, and no firearms or drugs were found in his vehicle. An empty handgun holster was found tucked into his waistband.
Months later, in July 2022, Davon Nathaniel Jones was arrested in connection with the murder. A forensic examination of his phone placed him at the scene of the crime. During a search of his home, police found a black face mask and black sweatpants consistent with the witness descriptions. Investigators also uncovered the messaging app conversations where Jones and a friend had discussed robbing people and where Jones had used a slang term for robbery when messaging about his meeting with Holmes.
Jones was charged with murder, felony murder, and multiple counts of robbery. In August 2025, a jury found him guilty of murder and armed robbery. The Indiana Court of Appeals later affirmed his convictions. The court noted that the evidence, including the messaging history, was sufficient to support the jury's verdict. While the jury could not reach a verdict on the felony murder charge and a firearm sentencing enhancement, Jones was sentenced on the murder and armed robbery convictions.
