***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 21, 2014

TWO ELKHART MEN CHARGED WITH FELONY MURDER FOR THEIR ROLES IN DEVONTE PATRICK'S DEATH

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

The Elkhart County Prosecuting Attorney has formally charged two Elkhart men with Felony Murder for their roles in the death of Devonte Patrick shortly before Christmas, 2013. Warrants for Arrest have been issued by Judge Shewmaker of the Elkhart Circuit Court for Antonio Walters, age 17, and Thomas Harper, age 20. Harper is currently in the custody of the Elkhart County Jail awaiting trial for a charge of Burglary Resulting in Bodily Injury which is currently pending in Elkhart Superior Court 2.

In the early afternoon hours of December 23, 2013, Devonte Patrick was driving around Elkhart with friends when one of his passengers arranged to sell some marijuana to Thomas Harper. Upon meeting near the vicinity of Prairie and Indiana in Elkhart, Harper and Walters entered Patrick’s vehicle to complete the sale. However instead of completing the sale, Harper and Walters displayed handguns, and attempted to take the marijuana without paying. Patrick was shot as he tried to drive away while the robbery was occurring.

Indiana’s law defining the crime of Murder encompasses circumstances where someone dies as a result of perpetrators committing or attempting to commit certain felony offenses. Both Harper and Walters are charged as accomplices in the crime.

Initial Hearings will be held in the Elkhart Circuit Court for Harper on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at 8:30 a.m., and for Walters once he is arrested.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”