In a tragic turn of events on August 23, 2019, 15-year-old Ashlynn Nelson, a female, was fatally shot inside her family's apartment on the far east side of Indianapolis. Her older brother, 16-year-old Nicholas Nelson, was also killed in the incident that shattered the lives of their family and shook the community. Ashlynn was remembered by her mother as a 'social butterfly' who was smart and earned good grades.
The siblings were students at Lawrence North High School, and their deaths
left a void among their friends and classmates. The family believed the incident began as a planned robbery. Detectives suspected that the teen accused of the crime had arranged to sell a cell phone to Nicholas but intended to rob him. The situation escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting of both Ashlynn and her brother.
A 15-year-old male, Lometreus Sanders, was arrested in connection with the double homicide. Sanders, who was known to the family, was initially charged in juvenile court. However, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office filed a motion to have him tried as an adult. He was subsequently charged with two counts of murder, dangerous possession of a firearm, and carrying a handgun without a license.
In court documents, Sanders reportedly admitted to the killings, claiming a struggle over a gun with Nicholas led to the initial shots. He alleged that Ashlynn then attacked him, leading him to shoot her and then her brother again. The case highlighted the issue of youth violence and its devastating impact on families and the wider community. The Nelson family, while grieving their profound loss, received an outpouring of support from the Indianapolis community.
