Evansville, IN — The family of a 16-year-old boy shot and killed in 2020 is speaking out after the man responsible for his death was arrested again on new charges. Eriyon Gibson, 23, was taken into custody Monday following an incident in which he allegedly shot at a home and threw a Molotov cocktail in Evansville.
Gibson had previously been convicted of reckless homicide for the shooting death of Rylan Conway in July 2020. Authorities said that Gibson, at the time, pointed a gun at Conway and pulled the trigger, believing the firearm was unloaded. Conway, tragically, died from the gunshot wound. Gibson later admitted to police that he thought the gun was empty and that he had been “messing around” when the incident occurred.
After pleading guilty, Gibson was sentenced to four years in prison. However, he was released early in August 2023, just two years after being sentenced. The decision to grant early release has come under renewed scrutiny in light of Monday’s arrest, which involved a violent crime.
Conway’s family, including his cousin Meghan Browning and her daughter Makayla McCool, expressed outrage over Gibson’s early release and subsequent re-offending. They said they had anticipated that Gibson would commit another crime after serving a brief sentence for Conway’s death.
“It’s something that we all knew was going to happen again,” Browning said, emphasizing her disappointment in the justice system. “Especially with four years under his belt, that’s all? That’s not enough to teach somebody a lesson.”
McCool also raised concerns about the disparity in sentencing, noting that people charged with less severe offenses, like driving with a suspended license, often serve comparable sentences.
“I feel like people get charged with driving on a suspended license or simpler crimes like that and serve the same amount of time,” McCool said.
Browning, in particular, voiced concerns about the safety of her family and the community, fearing that Gibson might continue to pose a threat if allowed to remain out of jail.
“I’m not only just scared for my family, I’m scared that there’s not going to be repercussions,” Browning said. “I’m scared that they are going to be able to bond out and this is just going to be a vicious cycle. It’s going to continue and they will eventually end up hurting somebody else.”
Following Monday’s arrest, Gibson appeared in court where his bond was set at $20,000. He is scheduled to return for a hearing next week as the legal process continues.
The case has raised questions about the effectiveness of early prison releases and whether those convicted of violent crimes are being held accountable for the full extent of their actions. Conway’s family hopes that the justice system will take the necessary steps to ensure that Gibson does not pose a further threat to the community.
