In the late hours of a cold Friday night in Indianapolis, on January 7, 2022, the life of 29-year-old Derrick Mooney Jr. was tragically cut short. A Black male, Mooney was discovered inside a Chevrolet Malibu on North Bolton Avenue, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a call around 10:30 p.m. and found Mooney, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Marion County coroner would later confirm that he died from gunshot wounds. The vehicle he was in had been hit by gunfire on the driver's side window and door.
The investigation into Mooney's death led authorities to identify 32-year-old Kenyon Webster as a suspect. The motive for the killing was believed to be a personal conflict, as Webster was the ex-boyfriend of a woman Mooney was dating. Court documents revealed a history of jealousy and violent threats made by Webster towards both his ex-girlfriend and Mooney. On the night of the shooting, Webster had allegedly sent threatening messages concerning Mooney to his ex-girlfriend. Evidence gathered at the scene, including 16 9mm shell casings found near the car, pointed detectives toward Webster. Mooney was found with a. 40 caliber handgun in his lap, but no casings from that weapon were discovered.
Following a months-long search, Kenyon Webster was located and arrested on April 30, 2022, and subsequently charged with murder. His trial was scheduled to begin on July 20, 2022. However, in a significant turn of events, the charges against Webster were later dismissed. The prosecutor's office stated that the sole witness to the shooting, who had initially identified Webster as the gunman, recanted their testimony and denied having seen the shooter. With the key witness's story changed, the case against Webster could not proceed.
