On a cold January evening in Indianapolis, the life of 29-year-old Marlin Kiser was tragically cut short. On Sunday, January 30, 2022, Kiser was ambushed and fatally shot outside his apartment complex in the 10200 block of Aristocrat North Drive. Police were dispatched to the scene around 8:30 p.m. following a report of a person shot, and upon arrival, they discovered Kiser deceased in the grass next to his gold Dodge Ram truck.
An autopsy later confirmed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators quickly pieced together the events of that evening through surveillance footage from the Carriage House East Apartments. The footage revealed that a man, later identified as Andre Johnson, had arrived at the complex around 6:25 p.m. and appeared to be waiting for Kiser. Johnson was seen parking his truck, surveying the area, and then repositioning his vehicle to have a direct line of sight to Kiser's apartment building. For nearly two hours, he waited. At 8:28 p.m., when Kiser pulled into the parking lot and got out of his truck, Johnson was seen on video running along the side of the building, attempting to remain unseen. He then ran toward Kiser, got behind his truck, and opened fire. After firing several shots, Johnson fled the scene in his truck.
The investigation was aided by a license plate reader that captured the license plate of Johnson's truck. Furthermore, a GPS bracelet that Johnson was wearing placed him directly at the shooting scene at the time the shots were fired. The GPS data also corroborated the surveillance video, showing he had been at the apartment complex for two hours prior to the shooting. This electronic evidence was crucial in leading detectives to Johnson's home. Several hours after the murder, a SWAT team arrested Johnson at his residence on the east side of Indianapolis in the 900 block of Drexel Avenue. A search of his vehicle uncovered the murder weapon. Court documents suggested that Johnson and Kiser had a prior history, and police assured the public that they did not believe there was an ongoing threat.
In September 2022, following a two-day jury trial, Andre Johnson was found guilty of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. On November 3, 2022, he was sentenced to 64 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated, 'We are pleased to bring justice for Marlin, his family and friends. This resolution is yet another example of our community taking a stand against those who commit acts of violence.'
