INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A 19-year-old who spent weeks evading authorities after a deadly shooting last fall is now behind bars following his surrender on New Year’s Day, according to Indianapolis police.
Investigators say Antwan Hayes vanished in November after a shooting that claimed the life of 23-year-old Kenneth Anthony Murff Jr., drawing a manhunt across the city and surrounding areas. Hayes finally turned himself in to police, leading to charges of murder and burglary with a deadly weapon, according to court records.
Detectives linked the violence to a tangled web of relationships and a chilling threat uttered months before tragedy struck. Court filings reveal Hayes had warned his former girlfriend that he would kill the next man she dated after their breakup earlier in the year. Despite her efforts to keep her new relationship out of sight, the warning would come back to haunt her.
On November 11, as most of the city slept, the woman arrived at her new boyfriend’s Indianapolis home shortly after 4 a.m. Within minutes, police say Hayes appeared at the property, carrying a pistol visible on security footage. According to neighbors, Hayes’ voice rang out in the pre-dawn darkness, demanding entry and threatening violence if ignored.
When doors remained locked, court documents say Hayes circled to the side of the house and opened fire through a window. Bullets struck Murff, who was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries soon after.
The incident sent shockwaves through the quiet neighborhood, with residents describing startled confusion as police converged on the typically calm block. In the aftermath, authorities pieced together interviews and security footage to reconstruct the deadly encounter.
Officers later learned that Hayes and his ex-girlfriend left the scene together in her car. She later told investigators she acted out of fear and confusion, never expecting Hayes would act on his threats, police reports say.
Hayes is currently being held without bond at the Marion County Jail as he awaits trial. Court documents indicate his next hearing is set for March.
Murff’s family has requested privacy as they mourn the loss and await justice. Law enforcement officials emphasized the importance of speaking up about threats and seeking help in domestic disputes, underscoring the volatility that can arise when relationships unravel.
Police continue to urge anyone facing threats or violence in their personal lives to reach out for support before situations escalate.