A 2023 stickup at an east-side Family Dollar that left a store clerk shot in the leg has now landed two Indianapolis men in federal prison for a decade or more. The admitted gunman was handed a 13-year, 10-month sentence, while prosecutors say his behind-the-wheel partner drew a 10-year term.
According to WISH-TV, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the sentences this week for 24-year-olds Jeremy Helms and Jaylynn McKinney after both men pleaded guilty. The robbery unfolded on April 23, 2023, at the Family Dollar at 1836 East 10th Street on the near-east side, not far from Arsenal Technical High School, as reported by WIBC.
Investigators say McKinney pulled a blue Ford Focus behind the store while Helms headed inside, pointed a handgun with an extended magazine at the clerk and demanded cash, according to court documents cited by WISH-TV. When the clerk could not open the registers, Helms allegedly grabbed about $120 from the worker’s pockets and shot the employee in the left leg as he walked out.
Chase, K-9 recovery and the weapon
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers in the area quickly spotted the blue Ford Focus and tried to pull it over. McKinney reportedly slowed down but did not stop, giving Helms just enough time to jump out and run, according to WIBC. An IMPD K-9 unit later tracked Helms down, and officers recovered his discarded black sweatshirt along with the handgun used in the shooting.
Sentences and pleas
U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker sentenced Helms to 13 years and 10 months in federal prison and McKinney to 10 years. Both men pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and discharging a weapon during a crime of violence, and each will serve three years of supervised release after prison, according to WISH-TV. Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said, “An innocent employee showed up to work that day and left wounded and lucky to be alive,” in statements included in court filings.
Legal notes
The Hobbs Act conviction, formally interference with commerce by robbery, and the firearm charge are federal offenses that can bring long prison terms when a gun is used during a robbery. Federal prosecutors say robberies involving chain retailers are often brought in federal court because they affect interstate commerce, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office release.
Aftermath
The clerk survived the gunshot wound and, prosecutors noted, was fortunate to live through the attack. IMPD and federal authorities credited fast investigative work for the arrests and the recovery of key evidence. Court records show both Helms and McKinney will remain under federal supervision for three years after they finish their prison sentences.
