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Inset: Kaeden Douglas (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department). Background: Mucky Duck bar in Indianapolis, Indiana (Google Maps).
An Indiana man allegedly spewed “racist and vile language” at a victim before shooting him to death during a drunken bar fracas, cops said.
Kaeden Douglas, 21, stands accused of murder in the July 17 death of Jereme Dillingham at the Mucky Duck bar in Indianapolis.
“The allegations contained in the probable cause affidavit state that racist and vile language was used before this fatal shooting and demonstrate how hate and aggression can escalate into a deadly outcome,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, Douglas had been at the bar for some three hours when he became “aggressive” and “drunk as f—.” Around 1:30 a.m. Douglas allegedly got up and slammed a chair before getting into a shoving match with another man. That”s when the 28-year-old Dillingham, acting as a peacekeeper, tried to intervene. Douglas and Dillingham had a “brief exchange” before both men “shook hands and hugged,” cops wrote.
Douglas then allegedly turned his ire on bar staff before bouncers kicked him out of the bar. As he was being kicked out, he said, “you all are dead men,” cops allege. The suspect walked back to a patio area where he began arguing with a woman, the complaint said. He started “talking s—” to her and slapped her, cops stated. She hit him back. Douglas allegedly retorted with “b—, I have something for you” and walked to his Dodge Charger.
Per the complaint, Douglas continued to talk “a lot of crazy stuff” while he walked to his car and repeated racial epithets at Dillingham.
At this point, Dillingham walked over to Douglas’ car as he began to drive away. According to cops, video showed Dillingham reach into Douglas’ car. Douglas allegedly fired a shot from his car into Dillingham, who fell to the ground. The suspect sped away.
Witnesses were able to identify Douglas as the shooter. Cops went to his home, where they arrested him. Post-Miranda, he made statements that were “not consistent,” police noted. At first, he said he did not remember anything at the bar. Then he claimed he had not been in a fight since the seventh grade, per the affidavit.
Douglas told cops he can “drink like a hog” and had several drinks and shots throughout the night. He claimed to be in fear of his life and acted in self-defense, but said he could not remember why he felt that way.
He remains at the Marion County Jail without bond. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 29.