In a tragic turn of events on June 23, 2014, 25-year-old Corey Michael Harris was shot and killed in a rural area of Paoli, Indiana. The incident, which unfolded at the residence of 56-year-old Nicholas Fields, also claimed Fields' life and left a third man, Daniel Smitson, seriously injured. Harris sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital.
After being kept on life support to honor his wishes as an organ donor, he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the triple shooting revealed a harrowing story of a robbery gone wrong. According to the surviving victim, Daniel Smitson, three men entered the mobile home and ordered the victims to the ground. The assailants were reportedly looking for drugs and money. After stealing guns from the residence, they shot Fields and Smitson in the head. Smitson, who was shot in the mouth, managed to survive.
Within days, Indiana State Police identified and arrested three suspects in connection with the murders and attempted murder: John Carpenter, James Davidson, and Elbert Brooks. One of the suspects, Elbert Brooks, told investigators that he, along with Carpenter and Davidson, had gone to the residence to acquire methamphetamine. Brooks stated he waited in a vehicle while the other two went inside, and that they returned saying 'it had went wrong' after he heard gunshots.
All three men faced serious charges, including two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. Following their arrests, the three men were brought to justice for their roles in the violent crimes. Elbert Brooks pleaded guilty to murder and attempted robbery and was sentenced to 100 years in prison. John Carpenter was convicted of murder, voluntary manslaughter, and robbery, receiving a 50-year sentence. James Davidson pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and was sentenced to 40 years in prison; as part of his plea agreement, the murder and attempted murder charges against him were dropped.
