A 28-year-old man from Indianapolis named Malik Halfacre has been sentenced to 145 years in prison after fatally shooting a 7-year-old child and multiple members of his girlfriend’s family. The dispute leading up to the tragic incident was over a stimulus check worth $1,400.
Jeanettrius Moore, the girlfriend of Halfacre, was lucky to survive the shooting incident but sadly, her 7-year-old daughter lost her life. Tomeeka Brown, Jeanettrius Moore’s mother, and Dequan Moore, her brother, were also involved in the incident. Johnson, on the other hand, was a cousin of Jeanettrius Moore.
On March 13, 2021, a heartbreaking shooting incident occurred at Randolph Street’s residence, where Halfacre was caught going through Jeanettrius Moore’s purse. He was searching for a stimulus check that she had received during the coronavirus pandemic. The police have reported this incident.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, upon arriving at the residence, authorities discovered Jeanettrius Moore inside. She informed officers that Halfacre had taken their 6-month-old daughter and fled after firing shots. Subsequently, Halfacre’s sister reached out to the police and informed them that she had the child. During an interview with investigators, Halfacre’s sister stated that her brother had stopped by her house, knocked on the door, entered, left the baby and “all of the baby’s stuff,” and departed.
According to detectives, Halfacre’s sister revealed that her brother confessed to committing the murders.
According to the affidavit, the woman recounted that Mr. Halfacre used her phone to call a friend who agreed to assist him in leaving town.
After conducting a thorough investigation, the police successfully located Halfacre’s friend and kept a watchful eye on the house until the friend departed. During a traffic stop, the police were able to interview the friend, who revealed that Halfacre was present at his girlfriend’s residence on Eastridge Road.
According to a report, a local Fox affiliate in 2021, an hours-long standoff occurred when a SWAT team arrived at the property.
According to Genae Cook, a public information officer for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, SWAT negotiators tried to establish communication with Malik Halfacre and delivered messages to him while he was inside the house. They even informed him that gas would be used in the residence. Despite their attempts, Halfacre did not come out for over three hours. Eventually, SWAT team members entered the house and found him hiding in the attic area. Fortunately, Halfacre surrendered without any resistance.
During an interview with WXIN following the tragic murders, Yolanda Graham, the grandmother of the 7-year-old girl who lost her life, expressed that she wants her granddaughter to be remembered for more than just being a victim of gun violence.
According to Graham, the focus should not be on the violence that occurred. Instead, he believes that it’s time to lift everyone involved in this situation. He emphasized that there are many individuals affected and we should remember that they are people, not just victims. Graham wants everyone to know that there’s more to them than just what happened, and it’s crucial to recognize this fact.
According to those who knew her, Eve Moore was a cheerful and witty child who was always in high spirits. She was described as a bright girl, constantly laughing and playing, earning her the reputation of being a “funny kid.”
According to a report, Halfacre had a criminal record before the March 2021 quadruple homicide. In 2017, he was charged with shooting a man but ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of pointing a firearm.
Upon reviewing court documents, it was found that Halfacre faced four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Additionally, he was charged with armed robbery, feloniously carrying a handgun, and auto theft.
According to a report by local NBC affiliate WTHR, Ryan Mears, a prosecutor for Marion County in Indianapolis, had contemplated the possibility of sentencing Halfacre to death. However, within just a few months of Halfacre’s arrest, he confessed to the murder and attempted murder charges, resulting in the dismissal of the remaining charges.
After Halfacre’s sentencing on Friday, Mears conveyed his appreciation to the families of the victims for their patience throughout this difficult and sorrowful time.
According to reports, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated that the criminal case has come to a conclusion with the defendant being sentenced to life in prison. Mears also expressed that this judgment provides a sense of closure for the community as they continue to recover from the dreadful tragedy.
