Columbus, Indiana – According to court documents revealed on Tuesday, a quarrel over a girl prompted the gunshot that injured four individuals in Columbus, Indiana, on May 23 and sent them to the hospital.
On May 23, at around 7:35 p.m., Columbus police officers were called to the basketball court at Lincoln Park after receiving a report of many people being shot during what they later identified as a drive-by shooting.
According to court documents, witnesses informed police that when a grey or silver sedan drew up next to the basketball court, they saw 18-year-old Edmarius Oats roll down his back window and begin shooting into the spectators there.
Alexander Parker, the 18-year-old driver of the vehicle, sped away from the court after the shots were fired.
Gavin Hardin, 18, and Tyler Hamm, 23, were two of the four victims who were shot in the drive-by, according to court documents. The two other victims were minors, 16 and 17 years old.
Investigators eventually discovered that Oats and Hardin had a falling out over a girl they had both previously dated.
According to court records, detectives learned that Oats received a call from someone on the basketball court while Hardin was there and was encouraged to play basketball.
Documents state that after learning Hardin was in court, Oats spoke with him, using the middleman to function as a conduit. Then, Oats threatened to shoot Hardin while using profanity.
According to court documents, the shooting took place almost 30 minutes after Oats’s phone call came to an end.
According to court filings, the mother of one of the victims of the shooting informed detectives that Hardin had dated a woman who Oats had previously dated. Additionally, the woman informed the police that Oats had been sending threatening messages to Hardin.
According to court filings, after the incident, authorities discovered Parker and the suspected automobile en route to Franklin, Indiana. Parker has been detained. He admitted to police officials that he was the car’s driver at the time of the shooting, but he did not identify the other passengers.
Investigators discovered two unfired.22-caliber bullets and three 9 mm shot casings while searching Parker’s car.
Oats’ Instagram was later discovered, according to court documents. Multiple posts on Oats’ account showed him holding cash and numerous pieces of weaponry. Detectives downloaded the postings’ photographs but later discovered that the posts had been removed after police discovered the images.
Oats were reportedly spotted being dropped off at this residence in the 2400 block of Old Field Lane by witnesses, according to detectives. According to court records, detectives kept an eye on the house until Oats’ arrest order was secured.
A SWAT unit established a cordon around Oats’ house. Negotiators got in touch with Oats, who later turned himself into authorities on May 23 just after midnight.
Oats, who was interviewed by investigators, denied being a part of the shooting, having an argument with Hardin, and receiving an invitation to play basketball in Lincoln Park.
Oats were also shown Instagram pictures of him holding weapons, but according to court documents, he claimed the weapons were not his.
When police finally gained access to Oats’ home, they discovered an empty box of 9 mm ammunition, another cartridge of.22 caliber that had not yet been fired, a holster, and a plastic container holding a 15-round 9 mm magazine.
According to court records posted online, Oats is accused of four counts of aggravated violence usage and one count of intentionally attempting to kill another person. These are all felonies.
In addition, Parker is charged with four counts of using an aggravated battery and one count of aiding a criminal.
As of Tuesday night, Parker and Oats were both being held without bond at the Batholomew County jail. The first hearings have not yet been scheduled.
