THPD homicide investigation continues after northside shooting

ICN file photo

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News


While a woman accused of murder has denied she pulled the trigger, a man with a lengthy criminal history has been questioned as part of the investigation, according to court documents.

According to the probable cause affidavit prepared by Det. Keith Mowbray, of the Terre Haute Police Department, the suspect, Ashley L. Johnson, 31,confessed that an accomplice, Vernon L. Eversole, allegedly was involved in Friday's   fatal northside shooting .

David Carroll was shot at a residence located at 4421 N. 18th St. at around 6:30 a.m.Friday.  Johnson,  of Terre Haute, was taken into custody at her Seventh Avenue residence Friday afternoon --- just before she learned the 34-year-old victim was dead from the gunshot wound.  

The homeowner at the scene informed police that the vicitm had stumbled in and said "she shot me," referring to Johnson, according to the report.

After initially denying knowing about a shooting during questioning at police headquarters, Johnson reportedly began to talk after finding out she is, in fact, at the center of a homicide investigation. 

"Johnson stated she told Eversole about David [Carroll] being mean to her, so he told her to go back to the residence and he would take care of it," according to the affidavit. She said she heard the gunshot fired when Eversole allegedly chased Carroll into the garage to get his "dope," as she stood outside.
 
Eversole, 46, of West Terre Haute. was arrested yesterday morning and booked into the Vigo County Jail on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.He also was wanted on two outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest. Eversole remains in custody on $250,000 bond, no 10 percent allowed.

When officers from the THPD Street Crimes Unit located Eversole on East Woodsmall Road, a 9 mm handgun allegedly was in plain view on the driver's side floor board, according to court documents.

A witness at an earlier traffic stop reportedly tipped officers off at Eversole's whereabouts. He also informed officers that Eversole was armed with two handguns, a 9 mm and .32 caliber. The witness also said he had just purchased a box of .32 ammunition for Eversole at a local store.

Johnson was booked into the Vigo County Jail just before 5 p.m. Friday. She is charged with felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, obstruction of justice, possession of paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and trafficking with an inmate. She is scheduled for an initial court appearance tomorrow in Vigo Superior Court 6 before Judge Michael Lewis and remains held, with no bond allowed.

The homicide investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, Eversole has been booked into the Vigo County Jail six times since 2004, according to jail records. He also was convicted of dealing cocaine in 2004. Johnson  has been booked into the jail five times since 2013.
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