Additional Coverage:
- Before Indiana judge and his wife were shot, they heard distinctive knock at the door (abcnews.go.com)
Five Arrested in Connection with Shooting of Tippecanoe County Judge
Lafayette, IN – Five individuals have been charged in connection with the shooting of Tippecanoe County Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly Meyer, at their home on Sunday. Prosecutors allege the shooting was a “concerted effort” to delay a high-profile trial overseen by Judge Meyer.
Among those charged is Thomas Moss, 43, of Lafayette, who was set to go to trial two days after the shooting in a case involving violent felony charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm by a violent felon and shooting into a building. Court records indicate Judge Meyer had recently denied Moss’s request for a further postponement of the trial.
Lafayette police announced the arrests on Thursday, following an “extensive investigation.” Three suspects – Thomas Moss, Raylen Ferguson, 38, of Lexington, Kentucky, and Blake Smith, 32, of Lafayette – face charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the gunman fired multiple shots through the Meyers’ closed front door while the couple was inside. Surveillance footage from the home reportedly shows a man, identified as Ferguson, knocking on the door in a face mask, claiming to be looking for his dog, before discharging a firearm. The affidavit also alleges Smith purchased the firearm used in the shooting in early January.
Prosecutors contend Moss, Ferguson, and Smith “took matters into their own hands” to impede the proceedings of Moss’s jury trial. The affidavit suggests gang affiliations connect the three men, with Moss and Smith allegedly associated with the Phantom Motorcycle Club, and Moss and Ferguson tied to the Vice Lord criminal gang organization.
Two women have also been charged in connection with the incident:
- Zenada Greer, 61, of Lexington, Kentucky, is accused of assisting Ferguson’s travel to Lafayette around the time of the shooting.
- Amanda Milsap, 45, of Lafayette, is charged with attempting to bribe the victim in Moss’s original case. Milsap allegedly offered the victim $10,000 on behalf of Moss and the Vice Lords to prevent her from testifying.
The affidavit also details a “suspicious incident” reported by the Meyers two days before the shooting, where a man with a distinct knocking pattern approached their door claiming to have a food delivery. This pattern reportedly matched Ferguson’s approach on the day of the shooting. The alleged victim in Moss’s case also reported a masked individual with a “distinct walk/gait” approaching her home days before Moss’s trial, which was consistent with the person seen at the Meyers’ residence.
Judge Meyer, in a statement released through the Indiana Judicial Branch, expressed gratitude for law enforcement’s efforts and community support, adding, “We will not be making public statements about the case since it is important to let the judicial process move forward.”
Moss’s original trial has been postponed, with a hearing scheduled to reschedule. Attorneys representing Moss in that case have stated they are not currently representing him on the new charges and declined to comment on the allegations.
An order appointing a special judge for the defendants in the shooting case is expected Monday. Online court records do not yet list attorney information for the charged individuals.