“We Set Him Up”: How a July 4 pepper spray fight spiraled into an alleged Ellettsville violent ambush

Staff report

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — September 25, 2025

Police say in court records that an alleged ambush at an Ellettsville ballfield this summer was not only planned in Snapchat messages but also practically solved by them.

Four suspects — Shelby Renee Givens, 18, of Bloomington; Jacob Michael Gadd, 19, of Bloomfield; Jaevaun Hopkins, 17, of Bloomington; and Anthony Jose Linares, 17, of Bloomington — were arrested Sept. 24 on felony robbery and battery charges after investigators from the Ellettsville Police Department uncovered a trail of incriminating quotes, photos, and geolocation data left behind on their phones and social media accounts.

From pepper spray to payback

The July 17 attack was rooted in an earlier confrontation. The victim told police that during a July 4 party in Spencer, Gadd pepper-sprayed him. Gadd later admitted to detectives that the incident happened, claiming he believed the victim had stolen his tan “peanut butter” Glock 19x.

The lure

At 12:53 a.m. on July 17, Givens contacted the victim through Snapchat. She invited him to meet at the Turtleback Creek baseball fields in Ellettsville, telling him she’d be in a black Chrysler 300.

When he arrived and climbed into the car, Givens asked if he had a firearm. He lifted his shirt to show he didn’t. That’s when masked men pulled him out and jumped him, according to court documents.

Detective Lt. Zachary Michael wrote in the PC: “ (redacted) described the males as one black male and three white males. All of the males were wearing black clothing, black shoes, black masks, and gloves. (redacted) was able to identify the race of the males due to the type of masks (balaclavas) they were wearing which revealed the skin around their eyes. (redacted) indicated one of the white males had his sleeves rolled up and (redacted) was able to see a tattoo of a cross on the male’s forearm. Additionally, (redacted) indicated the males were wearing purple disposable medical gloves.”

(Note, only three males were eventually arrested according to court documents)

During the assault, one shouted: “Give me that gun.” The victim insisted he had none.

The night before, according to the PC, “On July 16, 2025, at approximately 9: 37 PM, Gadd sends a message to “itz_jonathan232” that reads, “Come out”. The other user responds, “Im teynna look for my ski”. Gadd responds,
“Hurry”, “Bring ur brothers”. The other user responds “Idk where it at””

The injuries

The victim was left with a head injury, an open nasal fracture, a facial laceration, and deep contusions. Blood pooled in the parking lot where the beating occurred. He was transported by ambulance to IU Health Bloomington Hospital.

Digital fingerprints

While the suspects wore masks and gloves during the attack, detectives said they left a much bigger trail online.
At 4:39 a.m., just two hours after the ambush, Givens sent a Snapchat bragging:

“His name is (redacted). He Ina hospital. Everyone has skis. We set him up.”

She later messaged:

“I set shorty up… Ian lay hands… we had a scary ass mfka w us.”

When Givens told Gadd she was being questioned, he sent back audio messages coaching her to keep quiet:

“Don’t say a word… Just don’t say nothin’… Say somethin’ like he’s a cop callin’ bitch … Don’t even say nothin’.”

Instead of erasing evidence, Gadd laughed off accusations with emojis. And two days after the beating, Givens mocked the victim again:

“DAWG BLAKE FUNNY ASF.”

Building the case

Detectives pieced together the night using Snapchat geolocation data, Flock license plate readers, and bank security cameras. The Chrysler 300 was spotted circling Ellettsville minutes before the assault. Snapchat’s own records placed Givens at the baseball field between 1:59 and 2:01 a.m.

Photos recovered from the suspects’ accounts showed Hopkins with a handgun tucked in his waistband, Linares pointing a pistol with a green laser, and all of them in black ski masks. A later search of Hopkins’ residence turned up two balaclavas and a loaded Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun with an extended magazine.

“I learned (redacted) had a conversation with Givens on July 20, 2025 in which Givens denied any involvement
in the incident. (redacted) said approximately five minutes after this conversation with Givens, he received a request from “Chulo” to add him on Snapchat. “Chulo” then sent a message to (redacted) that read “Aye slime get my name out yo mouth”. “Chulo’ s” Snapchat account had two photographs of a Hispanic male; in one photograph he was sitting on the trunk of a dark-colored Chrysler 300,” Detective Lt. Michael wrote in the PC.

When confronted, Linares eventually admitted lending his Chrysler 300 to Gadd and Givens, saying Gadd told him he wanted to use a girl to lure the victim. Investigators noted dried blood on the passenger door frame.

The charges

The four were booked into the Monroe County Jail on Sept. 24.

• Shelby Renee Givens: Conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 2 felony) and conspiracy to commit battery resulting in serious bodily injury (Level 5 felony)
• Jacob Michael Gadd: Eight counts, including robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, armed robbery, attempted armed robbery (Levels 2–3), robbery resulting in bodily injury, attempted robbery resulting in bodily injury (Level 3), and two battery counts (Level 5)
• Jaevaun Hopkins: Multiple robbery warrants (Levels 2–3) and battery warrants (Level 5)
• Anthony Jose Linares: Multiple robbery warrants (Levels 2–3) and battery warrants (Level 5)

Editor’s note: Charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. This story is based on probable cause affidavits, charging information, and Monroe County jail booking records filed Sept. 15–25, 2025.

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