‘A tragedy on all levels’: Hamilton Co. prosecutors discuss teen shooting charges

CARMEL, Ind. – Court documents reveal new details about what led to a shooting in Carmel Saturday, with four of the five young suspects now facing adult charges.

The shooting reportedly happened during a robbery the teens planned.

The victim told police he met one of the suspects, Beau Shanley, over Snapchat to sell him marijuana vape pens.

Documents say a day before the robbery, Beau asked in a group chat if he should approach the victim alone. Another suspect, Malachi Hoffman, suggested the rest of them wait covertly. An unnamed juvenile chimed in, calling them “dummies” for not having a gun. Beau assured the group they’d have guns, then texted: “we can run plays after school” – slang for committing crimes.

“There was a saying back in the 80s, it’s 9 o’clock, do you know where your kids are? I think now, we have to think more about – your kids are online. Do you know who they’re talking to?” said deputy prosecuting attorney Mark Livingston.

Hamilton County prosecutors say each teenage suspect’s bond was set at $250,000 cash, and the jury trial is scheduled for December 1. A 14-year-old is also in custody, but has not been waived to adult court.

“This is a tragedy on several levels,” Livingston said. “We have a victim, obviously, in this case. Ultimately, we have five juveniles who are engaging in very adult behaviors.”

The victim told police four of the suspects ambushed him, all armed, after meeting up in a parking lot at Gramercy Apartments. At some point, a shot was fired, causing him “life-altering” injuries.

Documents say after the shooting, Beau claimed Dalen Peden, who now faces charges, handed the guns off to an unnamed juvenile who’s known to be: “the main person who does all the bad stuff,” like storing guns for him and Jalen Peden, another suspect facing charges.

Hamilton County prosecutors say while crime grows with its population, they are not seeing an alarming trend of youth violence.

“Our police officers are perfectly capable of chasing kids down when they do something bad,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Greg Garrison said. “I don’t see any emergency, but all crime’s an emergency to us.”

Carmel Police shared the following statement:

“The Carmel Police Department understands that recent events may have caused concern. This incident is not reflective of the safety or values of our city. Our officers acted quickly and professionally, investigating, locating and arresting all involved in less than 24 hours—demonstrating the skill, dedication, and teamwork of our department. With 21 officers working full-time in Carmel Clay Schools, we work hard to build positive relationships with youth. Although no approach is perfect, we remain hopeful for those who make poor choices and celebrate those working to make a positive impact in our community. We remain committed to keeping Carmel safe and fostering trust with all residents.”
Carmel Police Department

“We want to save our youth, sometimes from themselves,” Livingston added. “That may require us to not be friends with our kids but to be their parents.”