In the summer of 2017, the life of 25-year-old Dominique 'Dumpy' Donte Miller of Indianapolis was tragically cut short. On the evening of July 17th, police were called to the Somerset Lakes Apartments on the north side of the city. Inside one of the units, they discovered a grim scene: Miller, along with two other young men, Justin Crowder, 19, and Jordan Wright, 25, had been shot and killed.
Paramedics pronounced all three men dead at the scene.
The investigation into the triple homicide quickly revealed that the incident began as a robbery. Police determined that the apartment and the individuals inside were specifically targeted. Friends and family were left devastated by the sudden and violent loss. Miller was remembered as a loving father to his two young daughters, a son, a brother, and a friend to many. His family, heartbroken, pleaded with the public for any information that would lead to the arrest of those responsible, while also extending their sympathies to the families of the other two victims.
The investigation led to the arrest of five individuals. The man identified as the shooter, Troy Ward, along with Martell Williams, faced a six-day trial. Ward was ultimately convicted of three counts of murder, three counts of felony murder, three counts of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and carrying a handgun without a license. Williams was found guilty of three counts of felony murder, three counts of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, and carrying a handgun without a license. In a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the cooperation of witnesses, three other individuals charged in connection with the crime entered into plea agreements and testified during the trial. The convictions brought a measure of justice to the families of Dominique Miller, Justin Crowder, and Jordan Wright, though the pain of their loss remains.
