Last of four defendants in 2023 fatal shooting case takes plea deal

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - A 24-year-old Gary man accepted a plea offer Thursday, making him the last of four defendants to plead guilty in a fatal 2023 shooting.

COURT DOCUMENTS

Samuel Evans IV joins his father, Samuel Evans III, his sister, Lexus Evans, and his friend, Jesse Shears , in pleading guilty in connection to the killing of 40-year-old Dennis Dwayne Starr in July of last year. Starr was found dead from gunshot wounds after he crashed near the intersection of Lower Huntington Road and Kruge Drive.

Tuesday, Samuel Evans IV pleaded guilty to murder in the case. The plea agreement leaves his sentence up to the discretion of Allen Superior Court Judge David Zent.

He is set to be sentenced on Dec. 2.

Lexus Evans pleaded guilty to aggravated battery in connection to the shooting. Her agreement calls for her to serve no less than 10 years in prison.

She is set to be sentenced on Nov. 22.

Samuel Evans III pleaded guilty to battery. His agreement sets his maximum sentence at four years.

Shears pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a sentencing cap of 10 years in prison. Both Shears and Evans III are set to be sentenced on Nov. 18.

The murder charges against Lexus Evans, Samuel Evans III and Shears will be dismissed at sentencing if the judge accepts their plea agreements.

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