Amarion Cutler, left, and Nagomba White, Jr., middle, are accused of killing Josiah Small, 12. Cops say Josiah and three other boys were walking in an alley in South Bend, Indiana, when Josiah and the suspects got into a brief confrontation. The boys walked away but Cutler and White turned around their car, got out and started firing, police said. White has been arrested, but Cutler remains outstanding. (Josiah: Obituary; Mugshots: South Bend police)
A man is behind bars and another remains at large after they allegedly “chased after” four boys in an alley in South Bend, Indiana, and started shooting, killing a 12-year-old and injuring a 14-year-old.
St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter said at a press conference Monday the incident unfolded around 9 p.m. on Oct. 27 when three 12-year-old boys and a 14-year-old boy were walking in an alley. The boys split up and a short time later, two of them got into a “brief confrontation” with two men who were sitting in a car. The boys walked away.
“Two individuals then turned around their car, chase after” the boys, Cotter said. “Both individuals got out and discharged their firearms at those four boys. Even though they had separated, they were somewhat close enough.”
The South Bend Police Department received a ShotSpotter alert about shots fired in the area and responded. Officers found two of the boys shot. One, later identified as 12-year-old Josiah Small, was pronounced dead on the scene. The other, 14, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and survived.
Detectives tracked down video of the incident, which showed that after the interaction with the boys, the suspects made a U-turn and sped toward the boys. They got out of the car and one went after Josiah and the boy he was with and the other suspect went after the other two boys who were nearby, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime. The video showed muzzle flashes coming from the guns.
Investigators identified the two suspects as 21-year-old Nagomba White, Jr. and 18-year-old Amarion Cutler. White is charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon. Cutler is charged with aiding, inducing or causing murder, conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of attempted murder, attempted battery by means of a deadly weapon and battery by means of a deadly weapon.
Authorities, including US Marshals Great Lakes Regional Task Force, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police and the South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit, arrested White in Indianapolis on Thursday. Cutler has not yet been arrested. He is considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Michiana Crime Stoppers to leave an anonymous tip at 574-288-STOP.
Cotter declined to describe the “brief confrontation” between the suspects and victims. He said the killing marked a sad day for the community.
“Every murder is senseless to those of us that don’t do that,” Cotter said. “But gosh darn it, this one just tears at your heart.”
According to his obituary, Josiah played football for Dickinson Middle School and had celebrated his 12th birthday party just seven days prior to his death.
“He enjoyed watching anime and YouTube,” the obit said. “He also loved wrestling and spending endless hours enjoying the company of his baby sister who he truly adored.”
His mother, Erika Small, told the South Bend Tribune that she moved her family earlier this year to a safer area because she feared her son “being at the wrong place at the wrong time and something happening to him.” She said the charges didn’t make her feel any better “but it is reassuring that [police] are doing their job and that they care.”
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