Lexington man accused of shooting Indiana judge and his wife at their home
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Two people from Lexington are among five who have been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting of an Indiana judge and his wife, which police suspect is related to gang activity.
Raylen Ferguson, 38, of Lexington, is one of three people facing a charge of attempted murder in the shooting of Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, who were injured at their home in Lafayette, Indiana, on Sunday.
The New York Times reported that, according to court documents, Ferguson was wearing a mask when he went to the judge’s home and shot him, then fled. The documents said the shooter pretended to be looking for a lost dog and shot the couple through the door as they stood in the entryway, the Times reported.
In addition to attempted murder, Ferguson is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery by means of a deadly weapon, intimidation with a deadly weapon, gang enhancement, firearm enhancement and habitual offender, the Lafayette Police Department said in a news release Thursday.
Thomas Moss, 43, and Blake Smith, 32, both of Lafayette, are facing those charges as well.
The New York Times reported that Moss is the defendant in a case that was scheduled to go to trial before the judge two days after the shooting. Court documents indicate that Moss, Ferguson and Smith conspired to shoot the judge to delay the trial, according to the Times.
Zenada Greer, 61, of Lexington, was charged with assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice, police said.
She was arrested by the Lexington Police Department on Thursday and was being held in the Lexington-Fayette County Detention Center Friday night, according to the jail website.
Amanda Milsap, 45, of Lafayette, was charged with bribery and obstruction of justice.
The Lafayette Police Department said they responded to the shooting on the 1700 block of Mill Pond Lane at 2:17 p.m. Sunday.
Steven Meyer sustained an injury to the arm, and Kimberly Meyer had an injury to the hip, police said. While police said Kimberly Meyer was released from the hospital Sunday, they said Steven Meyer was still recovering.
Shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Lafayette is about four hours northwest of Lexington, between Indianapolis and Chicago.
The Lafayette Police Department named the Lexington Police Department, US Marshals and FBI among a number of law enforcement agencies that collaborated with it on the investigation.
Steven Meyer has served as a Tippecanoe County Superior Court judge since his election in 2014, according to media reports.
“I want the community to know that I have strong faith in our judicial system,” Meyer said in a statement released by the police department Wednesday. “This horrific violence will not shake my belief in the importance of peacefully resolving disputes. I remain confident we have the best judicial system in the world, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
