Parker
A local man who admits driving a passenger who allegedly shot four people in Lincoln Park has entered into a plea bargain agreement with prosecutors.
In Bartholomew Superior Court 1, 18-year-old Alexander Parker, 512 Pence St., agreed Monday to plead guilty to one Level 5 felony of assisting a criminal. In exchange, the prosecution agreed Monday to dismiss four Level 3 felony counts of aggravated battery.
Judge James Worton also consented to a request to release Parker, as he awaits sentencing. However, conditions and restrictions will be established by the Bartholomew County Probation Department, the judge said.
Worton scheduled the sentencing hearing for Parker at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27.
On May 23, four young people suffered gunshot wounds during a drive-by shooting near a Lincoln Park basketball court. Police identified the victims as 18-year-old Gavin Hardin, 23-year-old Tyler Hamm and two juveniles, ages 16 and 17.
Parker admits he was driving the person responsible for the shootings, identified by investigators as Edmarius Oats, 18, of 3464 Old Field Lane, Columbus.
While three of the four victims were flown by Lifeline helicopter to Indianapolis hospitals, all victims survived the shooting.
As a result of information provided by Hardin, police began looking for the the suspects and their vehicle. Later that night, deputies 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.
As the investigation continued, detectives received information regarding a second suspect later identified as Oats. He was captured outside his residence by members of the local SWAT team.
Oats has been formally charged with a Level 1 felony of attempted murder and four counts of aggravated battery, all as a Level 3 felony. He’s also accused of violating five separate jail regulations in August, and remains behind bars on $5 million bond, Sheriff Chief Deputy Maj. John Martoccia said.
During Monday’s change of plea hearing, Parker hesitated to give a response when Prosecutor Lindsey Holden-Kay asked if he knew shots would be fired while driving to Lincoln Park. When the prosecutor asked whether he knew Oats intended to commit murder, Parker paused several seconds before hesitantly answering “I guess so.”
A probable cause affidavit states Oats was jealous of Hardin regarding a girl.
At this time, Oats is scheduled for a change of plea hearing at 10 a.m. on Jan. 22, a pre-trial conference at 11 a.m. on Jan. 29, and a jury trial tentatively set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 13.
