In the summer of 2015, a violent act cut short the life of Tavin Yeakey, a 20-year-old Black / African American male, in Indianapolis, Indiana. On the evening of July 2nd, Yeakey was on Lynn Street, engaged in a game of dice with three other individuals at an abandoned house. The ordinary scene was shattered when a white cargo van drove by, and a barrage of gunfire erupted from the vehicle. In the chaos that ensued, all four individuals were struck by bullets. Yeakey suffered a fatal gunshot wound to his head and was rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The incident was a grim continuation of a spate of violence that had been plaguing the area.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting led authorities to a suspect, 22-year-old Steven Eldridge Jr. Key evidence linked Eldridge to the crime scene. His fingerprints were discovered on the white cargo van used in the shooting. Furthermore, a search of the vehicle uncovered shell casings that were a match to those found on Lynn Street where the shooting occurred. This evidence was crucial in building a case against him for his involvement in the deadly assault that resulted in Tavin Yeakey's death and the injuries of three others.
Following his arrest, Steven Eldridge Jr. faced serious charges, including murder and attempted murder. However, the case did not proceed to a full trial on these initial charges. Instead, a plea agreement was reached. Eldridge pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assisting a criminal who committed murder. As a result of this plea deal, the murder and attempted murder charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the incident. In connection with the same event, Eldridge also received a sentence for carrying a handgun without a license.
