Prosecutors file additional penalties against teen murder suspect
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) Allen County prosecutors have filed a pair of sentence enhancements to the charges against a Fort Wayne teen accused with two others of fatally shooting a man July 9.
Kamari Underwood, 16, faces charges of murder, felony murder and robbery related to the July 9 fatal shooting of 30-year-old Melvin Palmer III during a struggle outside a southeast-side home. Two other teens police believe were also involved in the shooting, Vicxon Gray, 16, and Underwood’s 17-year-old brother, Shakidi, face the same charges, though Shakidi Underwood has not yet been arrested.
If convicted, though, Kamari Underwood could have more time than the others, after prosecutors this week filed sentence enhancements against him Friday. The teen will face additional penalty for using a firearm and being a member of a gang, according to information filed in Allen Superior Court.
According to charging information, Palmer was riding with a friend in the 4000 block of Lillie Street when the car pulled over and Palmer approached the Kamari Underwood with money in his hand. Police believe the boy then pulled out a gun.
The two then began to fight and the struggle went to the ground, court documents said. During the fight, two gunshots rang out. At that point, someone emerged from a home and began shooting at Palmer, the charging information said.
Palmer then broke free and ran to the vehicle, and it sped off toward a hospital, court documents said. The car eventually found and cut off an ambulance, and medics found Palmer suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital where he would later die.
Police surrounded a Lillie Street home and eventually raided the it after a stand-off, though it was empty.
During an investigation, Fort Wayne police found two guns they believe were dropped by the teens. An investigation showed that Palmer was missing some of the cash he had before his encounter with the teenagers, court documents showed.
Kamari Underwood’s trial is set for Dec. 1. Gray’s trial will begin Jan. 5.
Police are still searching for Shakidi Underwood. Anyone knowing his whereabouts should contact police immediately at 427-1222 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 436-STOP (436-7867).
