A gang shootout: one dead, one wounded, 4 charged, one on trial now
- Jamie Duffy
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
FORT WAYNE, Ind. ---When Ayvion Parker was shot to death during an early morning gun battle outside his apartment on Fox Point Trail, his wounded younger brother cried over his body, cradling him as he expired.
That’s how police found the two of them two years ago on Sept. 12 around 1:50 a.m., according to a probable cause affidavit written by lead FWPD homicide detective Aaron Johnson.
Fort Wayne police have arrested four young men in connection with his death in what authorities are calling straight-up gang related.
The first of the four, Terrance Sanders, 20, is on trial this week in Allen Superior Court, Judge David Zent presiding. Closing arguments by his attorney, Robert Scremin, and Allen County prosecutors, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Tom Chaille and Chief Counsel Tesa Helge, are expected tomorrow.
It’s not the first time they’ve squared off in the courtroom, but one of the first that includes the charge for criminal gang activity. Sanders faces charges for murder, attempted murder, and battery with a deadly weapon. The murder is "acting in concert," court records obtained by The Probable Cause show.
If convicted, it will mean years in an Indiana prison, something that should scare the heck out of every young kid thinking about joining a local gang.
Chaille has revived using gang-related charges. In this case, criminal organization activity, a Felony 5, has been applied to the four accused in Parker’s death.
Prior to this, similar charges were often used in the 80s and 90s when the Gang Task Force patrolled the streets of Fort Wayne, Allen County Prosector Michael McAlexander has said.
Wednesday, jurors heard a riveting, yet matter-of- fact, discourse on Fort Wayne gangs, by Sgt. Detective Marc Deshaies, who spent 10 years on the Fort Wayne Police Department’s Gang & Violent Crimes.
You have “two tough dogs squaring up and eventually they’re going to fight. They’re trying to be the biggest badass dog in town,” Deshaies said on the stand.
In court testimony, Deshaies identified Sanders, now 20, as a member of the BSG, aka Big Swen Gang, named after a deceased member.
Parker, 18, was apparently a member of a rival gang, BMG aka Big Money Gang.
BMG and BSG have been rivals for years.
According to the probable cause affidavit, just before the homicide, Sanders and Christopher Recht borrowed a black 2015 Chevrolet Cruze to drive to the Villa Capri Apartments on South Anthony Boulevard, just south of U.S. 27.
The two others charged in the homicide are Corrion Parks, 22, and Lamont Martin aka Lamont Recht, now 18, a half brother to Christopher.
From left: Christopher Recht, Corrion Parks, Lamont Martin
Sanders and Recht were in communication with a girl who was giving them updates on just who from the BMG was there. In particular, they were looking for Ayvion, known by his nickname, “Aboog.”
This girl, who hasn’t been charged with any crimes, was telling police all kinds of tales after Ayvion was killed.
Here's a link to the rap video showed in court:
She said she received text messages from Sanders explaining they were on their way to shoot BMG and specifically “Aboogie.” She said she gave them the names of several BMG members, court documents said.
In court, Deshaies read off a list of probable gang members of the two rival gangs and said often they are identified from social media posts. No one wears identifying clothing anymore, although some have tattoos.
The informant also said she saw someone hand over a Glock 9mm and a purple “long” gun to Sanders, the day before the homicide.
Sanders did indeed have borrowed gun, according to another girl who was about to report her black 2015 Chevy Cruze stolen when Sanders sent her a text after the homicide to say they were returning the car, but needed to “drop off guns first.”
At the crime scene, detectives found two guns under a tree, 34 shell casings and a blood trail. All in all, they recovered five guns. Ammunition found was 9mm, 40 caliber and .223, the last one associated with long guns, according to court testimony.
It was in a traffic stop on Sept. 13 conducted after police were surveilling Sanders’ residence that a stolen Glock 43 was found in the gray 2014 Buick Lacrosse. That gun was tested and found to be used in Parker’s homicide and the shooting of his younger brother, Alilah, who was shot in the leg.
Cell phone mapping put Sanders at the Villa Capri Apartments at 1 a.m. His phone was turned off at 1:37 a.m. and wasn’t turned on until 2:07 a.m., court documents said. The homicide occurred at 1:50 a.m.
At 2:20 a.m., Sanders sent the chilling message to yet another witness: "da medics heading that way" and NHG, meaning "N-----a He Gone."
Parker died of multiple gunshot wounds. When police found him, there was a "a large amount of blood around the neck area.” The autopsy revealed an intact .223 round still in his thigh and another wound believed to come from a .223 caliber round that entered through his back, severed his carotid artery and exited his neck.
Long guns that use .223 caliber rounds cause deeper and more terrifying wounds. Death comes faster and rips through the skin like no ordinary bullet, police say.
During Deshaies testimony, there were photos and video of, in particular, Lamont Recht, charged as Lamont Martin, posting a rap video, naming names, boasting of past deadly accomplishments and "trash talking."
In the video, which has received more than 33,000 views, the rappers look like they’re from middle school. Photos of dead friends with their wings are haunting, as if this is normal.
A good many friends and family were in court Wednesday to support Sanders. The rap brought a slight smile to Sanders and at least the second row of supporters.
Some of these young men will “age out” Deshaies says. They become fathers, they grow up.
They’re the lucky ones.
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