On February 5, 2020, law enforcement officials in Indianapolis, Indiana, discovered a harrowing scene inside an apartment at the Carriage House East complex on the city’s far east side. Responding to reports of gunfire, officers entered the residence to find the bodies of four young individuals who had been fatally shot. Among the victims was 19-year-old male Jalen Roberts, who was found alongside his cousin, Marcel Wills, and two other friends, Braxton Ford and Kimari Hunt.
Investigators determined that the group had been victims of a violent robbery, noting that the apartment had been thoroughly ransacked and a safe had been emptied. Evidence at the scene indicated a barrage of gunfire, with detectives recovering over 50 shell casings, suggesting the assailants had fired indiscriminately during the home invasion.
The investigation, which spanned several weeks, relied heavily on forensic evidence and community tips to identify the perpetrators. Authorities utilized surveillance footage and license plate readers to track a vehicle leaving the scene, eventually linking it to one of the suspects. By late February 2020, police had arrested four young men in connection with the quadruple homicide: Cameron Banks, his younger brother Desmond Banks, Lasean Watkins, and Rodrience Anderson. Investigators revealed that the suspects had targeted the apartment to steal money and valuables, a plan that escalated into a mass shooting. Anderson, who was identified as the getaway driver, cooperated with prosecutors, providing critical testimony against his co-defendants in exchange for a plea deal.
The legal proceedings concluded years later, bringing significant prison terms for those responsible. In early 2023, juries found Cameron Banks, Desmond Banks, and Lasean Watkins guilty of multiple counts of murder, felony murder, and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. In March and April 2023, the Banks brothers were each sentenced to 220 years in prison, while Watkins received a 240-year sentence. Rodrience Anderson, honoring his plea agreement to four counts of robbery, was sentenced to 35 years. The conclusion of the trials marked the end of a tragic chapter for the families involved, who had waited over three years for justice following the senseless loss of life.
