In November 2019, 23-year-old Aaron Jones, a male, was found shot to death in the basement of his east side Indianapolis home. The tragic discovery was made by his friends, who found a door to the residence open and a four-year-old child alone but unharmed inside the house. Jones was known in the community as an entrepreneur who sold high-end clothing and sneakers from his home.
It appeared to investigators that the home had been ransacked.
The investigation into Jones's death was aided by his home security cameras. Footage from the Ring doorbells on his front and side doors captured two men entering the home on the day of the murder. One of the men, Johnathan Quarles, was seen leaving the residence with two backpacks before re-entering. Detectives were able to identify the second suspect as Gabriel West Jr. through social media. A significant breakthrough in the case came when it was learned that Quarles had known Jones since grade school. During the subsequent trial, Quarles admitted to witnessing West shoot Jones.
Following the investigation, both Gabriel West Jr. and Johnathan Quarles were arrested and faced charges related to the murder and robbery of Aaron Jones. After a two-day trial, a jury found both men guilty. Gabriel West Jr. was convicted of murder, felony murder, and robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. He was sentenced to 55 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. Johnathan Quarles was convicted of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and received a 19-year sentence for his role in the crime.
