GUILTY: Gang member convicted on 2023 murder, attempted murder

FORT WAYNE, Ind. --What did it for the jury?

The text message “NHG” for “N—-a he gone” after the Sept. 12, 2023 homicide of Ayvion Parker or “leave it to the streets,” advice Terrance Sanders, Jr. gave in a phone call to the victim’s brother as he sat in the Allen County Jail a week before the trial.

“Leave it to the streets,” was the phrase that Deputy Chief Prosecutor Tom Chaille opened his closing argument with Thursday, calling it “an admission of guilt.” 

Terrance Sanders, Jr.

After a four day trial, an Allen County jury convicted Sanders Thursday of murder - acting in concert, attempted murder for the wounding of the younger brother of the deceased BMG gang member, battery, and a Level 5 felony criminal gang activity. The homicide took place Sept. 12, 2023 at 1:50 a.m.

Sanders was also convicted of the gun enhancement, which come time for the sentencing on Sept. 22 could mean 20 years on top of the regular sentence. If all charges are maxed out, Sanders faces a 137 year sentence.

There were four young men in that car on the rainy night of the shootout between the Big Money Gang (BMG) and the Big Swen Gang (BSG). The younger brother, A.P., grabbed for his gun after his brother went down and shot at the black 2015 Chevy Cruze the four BSG managed to borrow off a female friend.

Preceding article available here:

https://www.theprobablecause.com/post/a-gang-shootout-one-dead-one-wounded-4-charged-one-on-trial-now?referral=business-feed

A.P. swore he saw Sanders, now 20, in the car along with the driver, Christopher Recht, now 21, and two others, Corrion Parks, now 22,  and Lamont Martin, now 18. 

The worst they got was bullet holes in the Chevy Cruze the female owner noticed almost right away. Unless you count getting charged with murder soon after the homicide at the Villa Capri Apartment, just south of U.S. 27.

Defense attorney Robert Scremin was valiant as he attempted to disassociate his client from the other three. 

First of all, he wasn’t even in the car pulled over the next day in which Corrion Parks was a passenger. Police later determined that the gun found in the car was used to shoot Ayvion Parker and his brother.

Scremin made much of the sweet deal the younger brother got after he talked to police. Chief Counsel Tesa Helge and Chaille said he got threatened and decided to seek help to keep safe, agreeing to testify at trial.

But A.P.'s two gun charges he caught after the homicide that could have sent him away for 12 years were exchanged for probation.

The prosecutors said he had those guns for protection, as witnessed by the death of his brother. Caught again, though, and it could be eight years in the slammer.

Scremin also pointed to the music video recorded by Lamont Martin, who also goes by the name Lamont Recht, that very pointedly rapped about the killing of Parker, but Sanders did not appear in the photo or video.

But there were text messages to two females that tied Sanders directly to the homicide. First, there were the text messages procuring the vehicle used to cruise the area before the ambush and ultimately, got shot up.

Second, there were texts between Sanders and another girl who reported back to Sanders who was there with “Aboog” or “Aboogie,” the street name for Ayvion just before the homicide occurred.

Then, she worried that she might get in trouble with the law for being complicit. 

Indiana law stipulates that it’s not against the law to belong to a gang, but you must not participate in unlawful activities.

Former Gang Unit detective Marc Deshaies testified Wednesday that there might be three to four people at the center of the gang who are willing to undertake violence, the “bulls-eye” of the gang. Then there are concentric circles of associates, the ones who appear in juvenile music videos spilling all their business on social media. The incriminating music video shown in court Wednesday is linked to Wednesday’s article (8/27/2025).

It was up to lead homicide detective Aaron Johnson with the FWPD to explain some of the  language in the video. 

For instance, did you know that the word “blender” means to kill? 

The gallery was packed with Terrance Sanders' family and friends, maybe even associates. This is no “fatherless” kid the media loves to point to as the reason for kids going to the streets, a call that is as strong as a siren to some young men.

Before closing arguments began, Judge David Zent warned all the onlookers that there might be some “un-PC language” and that both the prosecutors and defense attorney might get “loud and emotional” when giving closing arguments.

“I want you to be here. Let me repeat. I want you to be here. I want the citizens of Allen County to watch them,” Zent said. But he warned them not to be disruptive “or you will be leaving.”

Everyone behaved exactly as they should.

The other three await their trials this year and next.

Note: Closing arguments will be posted online.