On the evening of September 10, 2017, the residents of the Woodhaven Apartments in Indianapolis, Indiana, witnessed a violent sequence of events that began with a dispute over noise. Dequan Procter, a 23-year-old Black male, was spending time with friends in a hallway of the apartment complex, located in the 6400 block of Mission Terrace on the city’s northwest side.
The group, which included 18-year-old Jonte Williams and others, was reportedly playing dice and their volume drew the attention of a resident in a nearby unit.
Corey Harvey, a 23-year-old man living in the complex, opened his door to confront the group about the noise level. A verbal argument ensued between Harvey and Procter, with witnesses later testifying that words were exchanged before Harvey retreated into his apartment. The conflict did not end there, however. Approximately thirty minutes after the initial confrontation, Harvey returned to the hallway. Reports indicate that he approached Procter and fired multiple shots, striking him fatally. The gunfire endangered bystanders and resulted in chaotic scenes as emergency services were called to the location. Both Procter and Williams lost their lives as a result of the shooting incident that night.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene to investigate the double homicide. Through witness statements and evidence gathered at the complex, authorities identified Corey Harvey as the primary suspect. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with murder. During the legal proceedings that followed, prosecutors argued that the shooting was a premeditated act of violence stemming from the earlier argument, while the defense contended with the specifics of the sentencing.
The case went to trial in late 2018. On November 9, a jury found Corey Harvey guilty of murder for the death of Dequan Procter. Following the conviction, the court convened for sentencing in February 2019. The judge handed down a 55-year sentence, with five years suspended and two years of probation, effectively ordering Harvey to serve 50 years in prison. Harvey later appealed the decision, arguing that the sentence was inappropriately harsh given his character and the nature of the offense. In August 2019, the Court of Appeals of Indiana reviewed the case and affirmed the original sentence, upholding the 55-year term for the fatal shooting.
