On a tragic evening in Osceola, Indiana, 49-year-old Arles Slaven, a White male, was fatally shot on September 15, 2015. The incident unfolded at a residence on Douglas Road, a location known to law enforcement for previous drug-related activities. Slaven had accompanied his friend, Lacy Patton, to the house. Patton’s intention was to retrieve his infant child from the mother, who was reportedly at the home to buy marijuana.
An altercation broke out inside the house, leading to
multiple gunshots. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Arles Slaven deceased. Investigators later determined that Slaven, who was unarmed, had been shot by 24-year-old Terral Golden. After shooting Slaven, Golden pursued Patton outside and attempted to shoot him as well, but the gun seemingly misfired.
The day after the shooting, law enforcement apprehended Golden at a different residence. During the arrest, authorities recovered a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle and a 10mm Glock handgun. Ballistics testing confirmed that the shell casings found at the murder scene matched the Glock. Despite Golden's denial of his involvement in the shooting, he was charged with the murder of Arles Slaven and the attempted murder of Lacy Patton.
Following a trial, a St. Joseph County jury found Terral Golden guilty of both the murder of Arles Slaven and the attempted murder of Lacy Patton. The case highlighted the violent consequences of disputes within environments known for criminal activity.
