In the early morning hours of June 16, 2015, the life of 19-year-old David W. Phelps Jr. was tragically cut short in a violent home invasion in Indianapolis. Responding to a report of a person shot at a residence on Cluster Pine Drive, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers discovered evidence of forced entry and found Phelps deceased inside. At the time of the incident, Phelps' mother, brother, and cousin were also in the home.
According to the account given by his mother, Adrienne Alexander, two men broke into their house. One of the intruders pointed a gun at her, causing her to flee and hide in a bedroom closet, from where she heard the sound of several gunshots. Phelps had reportedly gone into the hallway to investigate the break-in when he was shot multiple times. The tranquility of their home was shattered, leaving a family to grapple with a sudden and devastating loss.
The investigation into the murder quickly focused on a 17-year-old suspect named Michael Grady. A crucial piece of evidence, Grady's wallet containing his Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles identification card, was discovered on the front lawn of the Phelps' home, directly linking him to the scene of the crime. Further investigation revealed that Grady had made a phone call shortly after the police were dispatched, in which he confessed to a friend that he had shot someone.
Michael Grady was subsequently arrested and charged as an adult with the murder of David Phelps. Prosecutors stated that Grady and another individual had forcibly entered the home, leading to the fatal shooting. In March 2017, a jury found Michael Grady guilty of the murder of David W. Phelps Jr., bringing a measure of justice to Phelps' grieving family.
