Jury finds man guilty in birthday party murders

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Nearly two years after two people were gunned down at a birthday party and another six injured, one person has been found guilty in connection with the shootings.

Court officials said a jury on Wednesday found Damion Martin guilty on all eight counts he faced, which according to earlier reports were two counts of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated battery and three counts of battery. Sentencing is set for May 16.

Two others had faced the same charges. The jury found Devin Staten not guilty on all charges, and found Antwan Williams not guilty on two counts, murder and attempted murder, and failed to reach a verdict on all the other counts.

Officials in the Marion County prosecutor's office told 24-Hour News 8 they are considering going back to court to re-try the case against Williams.

The shootings happened just after midnight on Aug. 3, 2010, at a birthday barbecue at a home in the 1200 block of West 32nd Street. Charles Mayes, 54, and Barbara Johnson, 34, were killed. It was Johnson’s birthday.

Witnesses told police other partygoers returned fire.

According to court documents, police said the men were aiming at Kendal Hill , who was among the injured that night, because they thought he was responsible for a 2008 murder.