Local News
Related Photos
Related Links
One teen killed in failed robbery attempt
Police say resident opened door, saw 16-year-old with shotgun
A Kokomo teen is dead, and two other juveniles face serious charges after an apparent robbery gone bad on the city’s south side early Tuesday morning.
Detectives said Nathan Marcus Paul Smith, 16, and Justin Smith, 17, Peru, were armed with a shotgun and a baseball bat, respectively, when they knocked on the door of 19 Southdowns Drive at about 12:30 a.m.
The man inside the home, Michael Slonaker, 61, came to the door armed with a handgun.
Slonaker told police the juvenile holding the shotgun raised it when he opened the door. Slonaker then fired two shots, hitting both juveniles.
Nathan Smith, a sophomore at Kokomo High School, was shot in the chest and stumbled out to the street before collapsing, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Howard County Coroner Brad Bray.
Justin Smith initially fled from the scene, but was later found at Howard Regional Health System with a gunshot wound to the knee, the detective said.
According to detectives, Justin Smith told hospital staff he had been shot and wounded on East Taylor Street in Kokomo while attempting to buy drugs. He later admitted his involvement in the shooting incident to investigators.
“We don’t believe that Nathan Smith and Justin Smith are related. It appears that they were just friends,” said Sheriff Marty Talbert. Slonaker told investigators that he was not familiar with either man.
“Slonaker is licensed to carry a firearm,” Talbert continued. “However a permit is not required to possess a handgun in your own home, or on your own property.”
A 17-year-old female who drove Justin Smith to the emergency room was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary. She was transported to the Kinsey Youth Center, where she is being held on the class B felony charge.
Justin Smith was transferred to Indianapolis Methodist Hospital by Life Line Helicopter. He was scheduled to undergo surgery for his gunshot wound Tuesday. Nathan Smith’s body is scheduled to undergo an autopsy on Wednesday at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.
Ironically, Nathan Smith was on probation with the Howard County Juvenile Probation department, but had not reported as required, according to department head Don Travis.
Nathan Smith’s probation officer, along with Smith’s mother, were out looking for him Tuesday morning, unaware he’d been killed, Travis said.
Travis, who was contacted outside the office Tuesday, said he wasn’t immediately aware of the reason for Smith’s probationary status.
The case is still under investigation, but Talbert said from initial reports, it didn’t appear likely Slonaker would face charges.
“The weapons [used by the assailants] were found lying on the ground outside the house, just like Mr. Slonaker indicated,” Talbert said. “That indicates he was put in fear for his life. Certainly if an individual showed up at my door with a shotgun, I’d protect myself.”
“We are asking anyone with information about this case to contact myself, or Detective Scott Waymire, at our investigations section, (765) 456-2031, Ext. 247,” said Detective Greg Hargrove.
Howard County Sheriff deputies were assisted at the scene by the Russiaville Police Department, Harrison Township Fire Department and EMS, and the Howard County Emergency Management Agency. The Kokomo Police Department is also assisting with the investigation.
Scott Smith may be reached at
(765) 454-8569 or via e-mail at scott.smith@kokomotribune.com
- Local News
-
-
Kokomo church struggles to pay cleanup debt
Pastor Dwight Hobson says he can’t understand why the state of Indiana is insisting on taking the money out of his collection plate.
After all, Hobson says, he is saving the state money by counseling teenagers on Kokomo’s near east side, keeping them away from gangs, drugs and teen pregnancy.
-
County council OKs funds for event center repairs
The Howard County Council on Tuesday night approved funding for repairs to the Kokomo Event Center’s roof, which should cost about a third as much as previously estimated.
-
‘Delphi isn’t closing anything’
Delphi Automotive Systems LLC says it will not close any of its operations in Kokomo.
Company spokeswoman Linda Ferries has responded to reports posted this afternoon on Inside INdiana Business’ website. She said the reported information is incorrect. The Indianapolis-based news agency quoted United Auto Workers Region 3 Director Maurice Davison as saying Delphi will phase out its Kokomo operations in 2012.
-
Nude drawings prompt arrest
Two drawings that police say depict a naked underage girl have allegedy landed a Sharpsville man behind bars on two counts of felony possession of child pornography.
-
Korean War veterans honored in Armistice Day event
A handful of Korean veterans stood at attention Tuesday to honor the brave soldiers who didn’t make it home after the three-year war in Southeast Asia.
-
Center Road closed for U.S. 31 work
Center Road is now closed between 150 East and 350 East, due to construction work on the U.S. 31 Kokomo Corridor bypass.
-
Councilman brings up business prospect at meeting
Kokomo Common Councilman Bob Cameron took more than a few people by surprise Monday when he asked area economic development director Jeb Conrad to come to the microphone.
-
Standoff ends in suicide
A Tipton County man allegedly fired a shotgun at a neighboring house late Monday before committing suicide, Howard County Sheriff Marty Talbert reported.
-
Duke Energy cuts power to apartments
Duke Energy Corp. says it had to cut power Tuesday to a Kokomo apartment building that dates back to the Great Depression because of “serious safety hazards.”
-
Goodnight supports combined dispatch plan
Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight threw his support behind a cost-saving plan to combine city and county dispatch services Monday evening, and urged the Kokomo Common Council to do the same.
- More Local News Headlines
-
