On January 9, 2018, Chad LaPlante, a 40-year-old White male from Indianapolis, Indiana, arrived at a predetermined location to complete a transaction arranged through an online marketplace. He had utilized a platform often used for buying and selling goods locally to set up a meeting for the purchase of an electronic gaming system. The exchange was scheduled to take place near the 3200 block of North Emerson Avenue on the east side of the city.
Upon his arrival, the situation quickly
deteriorated as it became apparent the meeting was a setup for a robbery. LaPlante was confronted by two individuals who had lured him to the location under false pretenses. As the confrontation escalated, LaPlante attempted to flee the scene for his safety. During his attempt to escape, one of the suspects produced a firearm and discharged it, striking him.
LaPlante survived the initial shooting but suffered severe injuries that left him hospitalized. Despite receiving medical care, his condition eventually worsened, and he succumbed to his wounds weeks later in early February 2018. His mother, Julie LaPlante, later spoke publicly about the tragedy, warning others about the dangers of e-commerce meetups and pleading for those responsible to be held accountable.
Detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the homicide, gathering witness descriptions of the two suspects involved in the deadly ambush. The authorities utilized these accounts to seek leads from the public. However, available records indicate that the case remained unsolved for a significant period following the incident, with no immediate arrests reported in connection with the robbery and subsequent murder.
