In the summer of 2021, the life of 15-year-old Chloe Carroll was tragically cut short in her hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. The female teenager was fatally shot in the early morning hours of Friday, July 23, 2021. The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Hoosier Pete Mini Mart. Police responded to reports of shots fired and discovered Chloe in the backseat of a vehicle near the scene.
She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Chloe's death led to the arrest of two other teenagers. A 15-year-old male, later identified as Montez Ellington Jr., was taken into custody and faced charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, criminal recklessness, and possession of a firearm without a license. A second individual, 17-year-old Cody Scherb, was also arrested and charged with offenses related to the firearm used in the shooting, including possession of a firearm by a child, theft of a firearm, and unauthorized entry to a motor vehicle.
The Vigo County Prosecutor's Office pursued having both teenagers tried as adults. In July 2022, a judge ruled that Montez Ellington Jr. would be tried as an adult. After a series of legal proceedings, Ellington Jr. entered into a plea agreement in March 2025, pleading guilty to murder. In May 2025, he was sentenced to 45 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. During the sentencing, emotional testimony was provided by Chloe's family, and Ellington Jr. offered an apology for his actions.
Cody Scherb also faced the legal system as an adult. In December 2022, he agreed to a plea deal, pleading guilty to dangerous possession of a firearm and theft of a firearm. In January 2023, he was sentenced to six years of probation. Prosecutors noted there was no evidence to suggest Scherb was aware of how the gun would be used or that he was present during the shooting. Chloe Carroll was remembered by her family and friends as a vibrant individual who had dreams of attending college and becoming a veterinarian.
