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
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