FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — Friday, 38-year-old Royal Davis was found guilty of multiple charges – including felony murder – and faces over a century’s worth of prison time.
In September of 2023, 28-year-old Travis Gilbert was shot and killed in his home off St. Marys Avenue in a robbery-turned-shootout. Gilbert was accused of selling fake methamphetamine to then 36-year-old Davis as well as Jessica Fuentes and Robert Ward.
Fake ‘ice,’ a shootout and a police chase: Court docs detail chaos surrounding St. Marys killing
According to court documents, Davis and 29-year-old Fuentes coordinated the $300 deal through 28-year-old Ward, who exchanged messages on social media with Gilbert. After the deal took place that Thursday, the trio discovered they’d been sold salt or a substance resembling methamphetamine.
They tracked down Gilbert the following Friday night to his home where he lived with his parents, Steven and Melinda Gilbert. Davis and Fuentes entered the home armed with guns, and demanded to be given $500 as repayment. Davis, wearing a helmet, hit Gilbert over the head with his gun. Striking him caused Davis to drop his gun, which was picked up by Gilbert’s father.
‘He died in my arms’: Father of St Marys homicide victim wants shooters held accountable
Steven told investigators that once he grabbed the gun, one of the intruders began shooting, and he started shooting back. He was shot in the leg and chased Davis and Fuentes out a back door, according to court documents. Gilbert followed, and more rounds were fired outside the house, one of which hit Gilbert in the chest and killed him.
Later, Davis and Fuentes led police on a high-speed chase, hitting speeds of 100 mph. The chase ended in a crash on an on-ramp onto I-469, injuring an innocent bystander who was driving the other car…