Parker
COLUMBUS, Ind. — A defendant accused in the May 23 drive-by shooting in Columbus’ Lincoln Park has entered a plea bargain agreement in the case.
Alexander Parker, 18, of 512 Pence St., Columbus, agreed in Bartholomew Superior Court 1 this morning to plead guilty to one Level 5 felony of assisting a criminal in exchange for having four Level 3 felony counts of aggravated battery related to the shooting dismissed.
Also, Parker will be allowed to be released from jail pending his sentencing, according to court officials.
Columbus police were sent to the park about a report of shots fired, and when they arrived, located multiple people near a basketball court with gunshot wounds. Two young adults and two juveniles suffered gunshot wounds, and all four were taken to Columbus Regional Hospital initially, with three of them eventually Lifelined to Indianapolis hospitals. All of the victims survived the shooting.
When the shooting occurred, numerous softball and kickball games were happening on the nearby ball diamonds, and while some people there ran from the scene, others ran to help the victims, using towels to stem the bleeding from the gunshot wounds.
As a result of information given to investigators, area law enforcement officers began looking for a vehicle and its occupants who were suspects in the shooting. Later that night, officers from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle believed to have been associated with the shooting. A traffic stop was conducted and Parker was taken into custody, according to Columbus police.
As the investigation continued, detectives received information regarding a second suspect reportedly involved in the shooting, who was identified as Edmarius Oats, 18, of Columbus. At approximately 12:45 a.m., Oats was taken into custody outside of a residence in the 3400 block of Old Field Lane in Columbus, by members of the CPD SWAT team, which is comprised of law enforcement officers from the Columbus Police Department and the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.
Oats is accused of aggravated battery and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, according to court records.
This story will be updated.
