John Jefferson
Caden Smith (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)
A jury in Indiana convicted a man who was just 16 when he murdered three people while he was showing them how to turn a Glock into a machine gun.
Caden Smith, now 19, was found guilty Friday of three counts of murder, robbery, dangerous possession of a machine gun and possession of methamphetamine, among other charges, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release. He killed Abdulla Mubarak, 17, Joseph Thomas, 18 and Michael James, 22.
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On Oct. 12, 2021, an officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department found the three men dead suffering from gunshot wounds in a path filled with tall grass near the 4400 block of S. Meridian Street. Investigators recovered several spent shell casings at the scene.
Cops later learned via text messages that Smith lured the men to the field over two nights to show them how a Glock switch works. The switch turns the semiautomatic firearm into a machine gun. Smith used the opportunity to murder all three men so he could rob them, per prosecutors. Detectives identified Smith as the suspect and found the murder weapon at his home.
“Abdullah’s, Joseph’s and Michael’s families will never be able to see them grow up and live their lives,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement. “This verdict solidifies that Smith will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for the crimes he committed.”
Because the killings occurred two days apart in a remote area, rumors sprouted about a possible serial killer, the Indianapolis Star reported. However, cops quickly debunked the rumor and arrested Smith.
A guilty verdict was not always assured. In 2022, a judge threw out some key evidence after ruling detectives violated Smith’s Fourth Amendment rights during a search warrant, Indianapolis NBC affiliate WTHR reported. Smith was released from jail on a GPS ankle monitor, but he found himself back in jail on his 18th birthday after cops uncovered Snapchat photos of Smith with a gun and drugs, according to the TV station.
He remained in jail until his trial, which began Aug. 19 and lasted five days.
“It was a long and challenging road for these families, but thanks to the steadfast commitment of the investigators, deputy prosecutors, and the multitude of agencies, justice has been secured for Abdullah, Joseph, Michael, and their families,” Mears said.
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