A father in Indiana was accused of fatally shooting a man he believed was dating the mother of his child.
Jaymon Trey Gilreath was arrested on Thursday, October 8, and charged with one count of murder in the death of Noah Slinkard.
The Bloomington Police Department announced in a news release that officers responded to a residence around 8:15 p.m. on Thursday after they received reports of a shooting.
Upon their arrival, first responders found Slinkard, 24, on the front porch of an apartment with what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the head. Paramedics then transported him to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, and he was pronounced dead just one hour later at 9:49 p.m.
Several callers reported the shooting and told 911 dispatchers that the suspect was walking east on West 13th Street following the killing.
As the officers set out on a search to find the suspect, Gilreath, 23, called 911 and told dispatchers he had shot someone, according to an incident report viewed by Indiana Public Media. Police officers later found Gilreath at 8:23 p.m. and he was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities also reported finding a handgun along Gilreath’s route, which they believe he used to shoot Slinkard.
The police department said that Slinkard was sitting on the front porch with another man when Gilreath allegedly approached them on foot. That other man spoke to police about the incident and said “he observed Gilreath pull a handgun from his waistline and then shoot the victim in the head before turning and walking away.”
Authorities eventually identified a potential motive for the shooting during the investigation as they spoke to witnesses.
“Officers spoke with several witnesses and others present who advised officers that Gilreath believed that the victim was having a relationship with Gilreath’s ex-girlfriend,” the police department said in the news release.
Gilreath also spoke to detectives, allegedly saying he had a “gut feeling” that the mother of his child was cheating on him with Slinkard, according to court documents viewed by WTHR. Gilreath added that he and the woman planned to spend time together earlier that day, though he grew suspicious when she did not answer his calls or texts.
The defendant claimed that he saw her truck parked outside her mother’s house before he spotted Slinkard on the porch.
Gilreath had driven past the residence with friends, and he reportedly told the friends he was going to fight Slinkard as he got out of the vehicle. “If you hear a pop, go,” he allegedly warned his friends, per WTHR.
Gilreath reportedly told police he did not remember the shooting, though he did recall holding a gun as he left the residence. He said that was the moment he realized he had shot Slinkard.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage from the area, which reportedly showed the shooting as well as Gilreath leaving the scene.
Gilreath was taken into custody at Monroe County Jail and he is currently being held without bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court for a bond review hearing on October 27, while his pretrial conference will be held on November 18.
It is not currently clear whether Gilreath has retained legal counsel or entered a plea following his arrest.
