Man in killing of Ben Davis HS student reaches a plea deal
INDIANAPOLIS — The second man arrested in the 2022 killing of a 16-yearold Ben Davis High School student reached an agreement with prosecutors in which his murder charge was dismissed Thursday, court records show.
Keith Miller, 21, pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice as part of the agreement and was sentenced to seven years in the Indiana Department of Correction. The charges stem from the April 10, 2022, shooting death of Michael Duerson III – who went by MJ. Police found the teen with gunshot wounds in the 5600 block of East 38th Street, on the east side of Indianapolis. Indianapolis police arrested Miller and Jayden Jennings, 20, in the shooting. Police believe the shooting involved the sale of a gun. Jayden Jennings was sentenced to 25 years in the Indiana Department of Correction as part of an agreement with prosecutors earlier this month. He pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, a lesser charge, in exchange for the state dismissing his murder and robbery charges.
Duerson loved to play sports, especially basketball, and listening to music. His family organized a prayer vigil and balloon release to honor him in April 2022. Loved ones dressed in his favorite colors of red, white and black. Antonio Lanier, the boy’s grandfather, said family members have questioned the plea agreement that was offered to Miller.
“They were both there when my grandson was shot and killed,” Lainer said. “It doesn’t seem fair to me. He was on the scene, and I felt like he was complicit.”
The Justice Department seeks to move marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
According to the Justice Department’s notice about the proposal, the move is suggested to be “consistent” with the Department of Health and Human Services view that marijuana “has a currently accepted medical use.”
The Department of Health and Human Services conducted a review of marijuana in 2023 following Biden’s request to reconsider the drug’s classification.
Are there any recent bills in Congress addressing marijuana?
At the start of May, a group of Democratic U.S. Senators introduced legislation to decriminalize and deschedule marijuana, but it has not moved beyond introduction and is unlikely to go anywhere in a Republican-led House.
Where do Indiana’s U.S. Senators stand?
The Hoosier State’s two U.S. Senators — Republicans Todd Young and Mike Braun — both believe marijuana regulation should be left to the state level.
Braun, who is currently running for governor, does not support federally legalizing recreational marijuana, but has expressed openness to proposals on medical marijuana at the state level, said Zacharie Riddle, a spokesperson for Braun’s Senate office.
Marijuana is not among the top issues for Young, according to a statement from the senator’s office provided to IndyStar.
“He’s focused on the issues Hoosiers care about like border security, inflation, and countering China,” the statement reads. “However, he generally believes marijuana policy would be best addressed at the state level. Should any marijuana-related bills come up for a vote, he will give it careful consideration as he does all votes.”
Where do Indiana’s U.S. House members stand?
Only one of the nine U.S. House members representing Hoosiers responded to IndyStar’s questions about their views on the Justice Department’s marijuana reclassification proposal.
Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Braun, said through a spokesperson that he is against both changing marijuana’s drug scheduling and any federal recreational legalization efforts. Banks represents the 3rd Congressional District in northeast Indiana.
Does any of this matter to Indiana?
According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, changing marijuana’s drug scheduling would not bring any state laws on medical or recreational marijuana use in line with federal laws. Indiana currently has no laws allowing medical or recreational use.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.