2 men charged with felony murder after drug-related robbery leaves 1 dead, 3 wounded

INDIANAPOLIS — Two men are in jail accused of robbery and felony murder after a shooting on Indy’s east side left one man dead and three others wounded.

In mid-February, police claim four men showed up to a home on Wallace Avenue planning to commit a robbery.

Cameron Clay, 20, allegedly went inside and got into a struggle with the homeowner.

During a fight over a gun, the homeowner was shot in the groin before he got control of the weapon and returned fire, killing Clay.

Two of the three suspects outside the home were then wounded during an exchange of gunfire.

Prosecutors believe 21-year-old Christopher Highbaugh helped set up the deadly encounter.

Highbaugh and a second suspect, 21-year-old Montel Stone, who was allegedly acting as a getaway driver, have both been charged with felony murder for the death of their accomplice.

While neither of the suspects actually fired the fatal shots, both are being held accountable for the killing.

“I think the legislature thought they would be discouraging people from participating in these violent crimes. You don’t have to be the shooter. You don’t have to possess a firearm. You don’t have to fire a shot at all,” said attorney John Tompkins.

Attorney Tompkins said Indiana’s felony murder law allows people to be held accountable for deadly violence that occurs during the commission of certain crimes.

In this case, police claim messages recovered on Instagram show Stone and Highbaugh arranged the drug-related robbery.

“Anyone who is a part of the other crime, in this case robbery, can be charged with felony murder if someone dies in the course of the robbery,” said Tompkins.

Inside the home, police recovered three pounds of marijuana and large bags of mushrooms.

The homeowner has not been charged in connection to the murder, but police hope the pair of arrests sends a clear message.

“No matter your involvement, we are going to hold you accountable for criminal activity. In this case, there was a death and we’re not going to have that in our city,” said IMPD officer Tommy Thompson.

Police recovered home surveillance video which seemed to corroborate the homeowner’s description.

Both Stone and Highbaugh are now being held without bond pending trial.