Stitts faces 2 murder charges after Friday’s death

Local News

Discussion

January 27, 2012

Prosecutor files second murder charge

By Mike Fletcher Tribune staff writer The Kokomo Tribune Fri Jan 27, 2012, 10:08 PM EST

Kokomo — On the day a second victim died, Kokomo police reported that they believe a two-day shooting spree was carried out at random.

With the death Friday of David Gibson, 64, prosecutors filed a second murder charge against Turama L. Stitts. The 36-year-old Kokomo man now faces two murder and two attempted murder charges in the shootings near downtown, Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann said.

Since Stitts’ arrest early Thursday evening, police have said they believe Stitts acted alone in the four shootings in a six-block area.

“The safe and close-knit community of Kokomo was shaken by the random violent acts of one individual,” Chief Rob Baker said in a press release Friday. “Unfortunately, the disregard for human life resulted in four individuals being tragically victimized.”

He said investigators believe the shootings were not related to drugs or any other criminal activity.

The shooting spree started Wednesday evening, when Gibson was shot in the head while walking in the 300 block of East Mulberry Street. He died Friday in St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. The shootings resumed Thursday — Argena Williams, 48, at 11:30 a.m. on East Taylor Street just east of Apperson Way North; Miriam Mallory, 10 minutes later in the 400 block of North Purdum Street; and Ricky A. Patterson, 51, at 1:10 p.m. a few blocks away in the 600 block of East Taylor Street. Williams died Thursday at an area hospital, and Mallory and Patterson are still hospitalized.

According to charging information filed Friday in Howard Superior Court 2, Stitts confessed to the shootings during an interview with Detective Mike Banush.

Stitts told police the victims were trying to kill him, the probable cause affidavit stated. It further stated that a person close to Stitts said the suspect was off his medication for the last few days and had been acting strange.

During the investigation, a witness in the third shooting told police he was talking to Stitts when Stitts turned and shot Patterson in the head. The witness then told police he saw Stitts running to a house in the 600 block of East Taylor Street. A resident of the house told police Stitts was seen cleaning a gun in the sink. Police said they later recovered a .25-caliber Winchester handgun from the house.

McCann said Stitts is set to be arraigned on the charges Tuesday in Howard Superior Court 2.

Stitts remains in the Howard County jail without bail and has refused an interview with the Kokomo Tribune.

Baker credited the coordinated effort involving almost 60 officers from the Kokomo Police Department, Howard County Sheriff Department and the Howard County Emergency Management Agency in quickly locating, arresting and bringing an end to the situation.

“The Kokomo Police Department expresses our deepest sympathy to all the victims and the victims’ families for the tragedy they have endured,” the chief said.

“The thoughts and prayers of all the members of our department go out to each and every person who has been affected by these terrible events.”

• Mike Fletcher, Tribune crime reporter, may be reached at 765-454-8565 or via email at mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Charge filed in missing woman’s death
Prosecutors charged Travis Funke with voluntary manslaughter Tuesday in the death of missing Kokomo resident Kelly Armstrong, despite never finding her body.

February 22, 2012
Indiana bill compels colleges to simplify credit transfers
IINDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana General Assembly is moving ahead on efforts to contain college costs, which have risen more than 100 percent over the last decade.

February 22, 2012 1 Photo
Twelve-year-old cancer survivor seeking pennies
Twelve-year-old Gradyn Rogers remembers the hair loss, pain, nausea and dizziness he endured for three years while fighting leukemia.

“It turned my world upside down,” he said.

February 22, 2012
Housing starts 2012 with pick up
Howard County’s housing market started 2012 with an approximately 48 percent increase in sales compared to a year earlier.

February 22, 2012
School choice expansion falters
INDIANAPOLIS – School choice advocates who ended the last legislative session with a bill that created the largest voucher program in the nation have been stymied this session in their efforts to expand the program’s scope.

February 20, 2012
Fighting cancer’s spread
Once directed only at girls, the Centers for Disease Control is recommending boys be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus.

February 20, 2012
An iPad for every student
GREENTOWN — Every kindergartner at Eastern Elementary School soon will be able to choose a bedtime story from a library at their fingertips or pop balloons with mom and dad to learn about math.

February 20, 2012
County getting sewer grant
Another piece of the funding puzzle has fallen into place for construction of a septic sewer system for Darrough Chapel.

February 20, 2012
Students enter the lab to study stormwater
Coffee grounds are about the last thing you’d find children willing to play with, unless somehow someone repackaged the soggy brown bits as a science experiment.

February 19, 2012 1 Photo
3 women vying for top court position
For the second time in less than a year, Gov. Mitch Daniels may have the chance to consider appointing a woman to the state’s all-male top court.

February 19, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Stitts faces 2 murder charges after Friday’s death

Prosecutor files second murder charge

Site Map

Contact Us