An alleged gun sale in a Columbus, Indiana, gas station parking lot turned into a high-speed pursuit and armed robbery case on April 3, 2026, according to investigators. An Indiana State Police trooper spotted a car leaving a Speedway in Columbus at what authorities describe as a high rate of speed, followed the vehicle, then detained the three people inside. The group was taken to the Bartholomew County sheriff's office, where detectives later reported finding a handgun, about $1,000 in cash, and suspected marijuana and codeine in the car. Two of the occupants, identified as Jaevonte Morning and Evan Shelby, now face felony armed robbery charges, while a third person has not been charged.
How police say it unfolded
According to documents obtained by WTHR, the group allegedly arranged what was supposed to be a $1,000 gun sale at the Speedway. Instead of wrapping up a clean transaction, the car reportedly pulled away from the lot with its headlights off. A nearby trooper began following the vehicle and later told investigators he heard gunfire coming from the area of the car. Court records indicate a shooting occurred on Interstate 65 just north of Taylorsville while the pursuit was underway.
Evidence and messages
WTHR reports that investigators searching Morning's phone found text messages that appear to spell out a plan to rip off the would-be buyer instead of selling a firearm. One message, quoted in court records, reads: "i got a play for 1k rn and he don't got a gun. omgggg." Detectives also seized a firearm, suspected drugs, and roughly $1,000 in cash from the vehicle. Morning later told police that when he counted the money, it came up $100 short.
Charges and next court dates
Authorities have charged Morning and Shelby with felony armed robbery. Shelby told investigators that he and Morning went to Columbus to meet a friend and that he headed to the Speedway to sell a gun that belonged to Morning, according to case documents. Official records state that the trooper detained all three occupants of the car and took them to the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Office. Morning and Shelby are scheduled for initial court hearings on May 13, 2026.
Legal context
Under Indiana law, robbery is a serious felony offense, and the stakes climb higher when a weapon is allegedly involved. State law and related court commentary indicate that robbery can be charged as a Level 3 felony if a deadly weapon is used, a category that carries significantly greater potential punishment than a simple theft case, as outlined by FindLaw. The incident also highlights the risks that can come with private gun deals arranged in parking lots and other unsupervised spots, where buyers and sellers may be vulnerable to scams or violence, a pattern that has been documented in reporting by The Trace.
Prosecutors have not ruled out additional charges as investigators continue reviewing evidence and court filings develop. This story will be updated if new filings or official statements are released.
