Teen to be charged as adult in August murders of brother, sister
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A teen accused in the August murders of a pair of siblings in Indianapolis will be charged as an adult, the prosecutor’s office confirmed Friday.
Lometreus Sanders, 16, had been accused in juvenile court of charges equivalent to two counts of murder, dangerous possession of a firearm and carrying a handgun with a license, according to a petition filed in August. Formal, adult charges against Sanders were not listed in online court records but the prosecutor’s office said he was charged as an adult on Thursday. Sanders remained in Marion County Jail on Friday night, according to online records.
Sanders is charged in the murders of Nicholas Nelson, 16, and Ashlynn Nelson, 15. The siblings were getting ready for class at Lawrence North High School when they were shot and killed at an apartment near 42nd Street and Post Road.
Their deaths led to an outpouring from the community, which remembered them as young people who were involved in service projects and excelled academically.
“Our community has been rocked. Our community has been devastated. Two diamonds have been stolen from us prematurely,” Antonio Patton, a community advocate and friend of the family, said the day of the shooting.
Sanders is the third juvenile in a week to be waived to adult court in a murder case. Earlier Friday, the prosecutor’s office announced 16-year-old Sylvester Ford would face adult charges in his uncle’s fatal shooting in Beech Grove. And on Wednesday, 17-year-old Desmond Banks was among the four suspects charged in a Feb. 5 quadruple murder near 42nd Street and Mitthoeffer Road.
News 8 spoke to community members about the string of violence in Marion County.
“To be honest, I’m not really sure. I don’t really know what else they (police) can do. I can say increase patrol, but it’s already increased here. I really just feel like we are running out of answers,” said Indy resident Leslie Hunter.
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