Docs: Fender bender sparked fatal Indianapolis shooting; Suspect tried to doctor crime scene

INDIANAPOLIS - A fender bender sparked a deadly shooting at an Indianapolis U-Haul earlier this month.




Previous reporting indicates police were called to the 2000 block of East Washington Street around 7:27 p.m. on April 3 to investigate a shooting. When police arrived at the scene, they found 61-year-old Ryan Aaron McClellan slumped over inside a U-Haul van.




Medics pronounced McClellan dead at the scene at 7:36 p.m. Witnesses IMPD spoke with during their investigation indicated McClellan was shot by two males.




After McClellan was pronounced dead, homicide detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called to the scene.

Investigation of crime scene and security camera footage

Soon after they arrived, detectives observed that the van McClellan was found in and a nearby Nissan Altima both had rear-end damage. Police determined the damage was fresh because they found chipped paint on the ground at the shooting scene.




According to an affidavit for probable cause, multiple security cameras in the area captured video and audio of the incident. Upon reviewing the footage, police confirmed the van and Altima were involved in a crash.




After the crash, a male approached the van and claimed the van's driver had struck the Altima. The male then said he was going to need some "bread."




The cameras did not capture the moment the shooting happened. According to court records, however, the same male was seen walking away from the van approximately two minutes after he first approached it and demanded "bread."




Police reported that the male put a jacket over his head and wore his dreads down after he walked away from the van. In the affidavit they filed after their investigation, detectives indicated that the male was likely trying to hide his face while walking away from the van.




About four minutes after the crash happened, a second male - who was later identified as 31-year-old Russell Patrick Phelps - approached the U-Haul and looked inside it. Once he had taken a look inside the U-Haul, Phelps walked over to a red Chrysler 300 and opened its passenger side door.




Phelps then put on a pair of gray gloves and walked back over to the U-Haul. He then retrieved a phone and some keys from an area near the U-Haul.




Court documents indicate that Russell subsequently threw the phone he recovered down a nearby alley.




During their investigation, police recovered the phone Russell allegedly tossed down the nearby alley. Police determined that the phone belonged to McClellan.




While canvassing the crime scene, police also found a .357 Sig cartridge and a lighter.

Evidence recovered during execution of search warrants

As their investigation continued, detectives determined Phelps was the registered owner of the red Chrysler he retrieved the gloves from. Court records indicate the white Altima involved in the crash belonged to one of Phelps' family members.




Police then visited the Altima owner's residence. During a subsequent search of the residence, police found a pair of gray gloves, multiple magazines capable of holding .357 Sig rounds, U-Haul keys and a pair of red Crocs.




Per court documents, police confirmed the keys recovered from the residence belonged to the U-Haul that was initially involved in the crash with the Altima. The pair of red Crocs also looked similar to the footwear that one of the males at the shooting scene was wearing.

Phelps' arrest and interview with police

Local authorities ultimately issued a warrant for Phelps' arrest. IMPD's Violent Crime Unit (VCU) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel located Phelps in the 6500 block of East 10th Street on April 15.




Phelps was driving the red Chrysler 300 police spotted at the shooting scene when he was arrested.




After he was detained, Phelps was transported to the IMPD homicide office for an interview. During the interview, Phelps identified himself as one of the males pictured in security camera video of the crime scene.




Court records report that Phelps also told police he picked up a phone near the U-Haul. He claimed he thought the phone was his and that he did not see McClellan's dead body when he retrieved the device.




Police later asked Phelps why he put gloves on before picking up the phone. Phelps told police he is a clean person, and the phone was on a wet, muddy road.




Police also asked Phelps how the keys to the U-Haul got to his family member's residence. Phelps indicated that he did not know how the keys got to his family member's home. Phelps added that he did not take the keys from the U-Haul.




Indiana's public court reporting system indicates Phelps has been formally charged with assisting a criminal who committed murder and obstruction of justice where the defendant alters, damages or removes evidence from a crime scene.

Phelps appears in court, IMPD's investigation continues

Phelps appeared in court for an initial hearing on Monday. A jury trial in his case has been set for July 9.




Assisting a criminal who committed murder - a Level 5 Felony - is the most serious of the charges Phelps faces. The maximum penalty for a Level 5 Felony in Indiana is a six-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.




Phelps is the first person to be publicly charged for his alleged role in McClellan's death. It is unclear who the other male spotted with Phelps at the scene is. The other male's exact role in the shooting, if any, has not been disclosed by police.




It is unclear if the other male at the scene with Phelps will be charged. Authorities have not yet announced if they are criminally investigating any other individuals outside of Phelps and the other male spotted at the shooting scene.





via: https://fox59.com/news/docs-fender-bender-sparked-fatal-indianapolis-shooting-suspect-tried-to-doctor-crime-scene/