19-year-old charged with murder after love triangle leads to deadly shooting in Lawrence

LAWRENCE, Ind. — A 19-year-old Indianapolis man was arrested this week for a murder in Lawrence.

In late April, at a home on Vernon Avenue, an argument and fight between two men ended in a shooting.

Lawrence police condemned the senseless violence.

“We have to find a better way to resolve conflict by not using a firearm. This is being consistent and it’s unacceptable,” Lawrence police Captain Tracy Cantrell said.

More than two months later, police now believe a love triangle led to the murder of 26-year-old Darius Timberlake.

Prosecutors claim 19-year-old Jeremy Jett showed up at his girlfriend’s home and found her in bed with the victim.

The suspect then allegedly pulled out a gun and fought with the victim over the weapon before the fatal shots were fired.

According to court records, the suspect waited about 30 minutes after the shooting at this home to call 911.

When police arrived, the accused killer claimed the violence was an accident, but his girlfriend told a different story.

Prior to his arrest this week, police say the suspect went on Instagram and told a friend he was going to claim self-defense.

“Telling people what your defense is does not make it an invalid defense,” attorney John Tompkins said.

Attorney John Tompkins isn’t connected to the case, but says the law doesn’t allow people to instigate violence and then claim they were defending themselves.

“You cannot start a violent episode and then claim the need to defend yourself against what you started,” Tompkins said.

Still, if the case goes to court, Tompkins says the love triangle could make it hard to prove exactly who was the initial aggressor.

“Because what you have in this case is two men who might both legitimately be upset with the other,” Tompkins said, “Both of them have a strong reason to be the initial aggressor.”

After the shooting, court records claim Jett’s girlfriend described the suspect as “jealous and accused her of cheating” and added that he kept asking her “why are you laid up next to him.”

She told police she did not think the shooting was an accident.

The suspect is due in court for an initial hearing on Thursday. He’s now being held without bond pending trial.