Documents: Pastor's Wife 'Charged at' Gunman

Chilling details emerge in Indianapolis slaying
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 24, 2015 2:58 AM CST
Updated Nov 24, 2015 5:53 AM CST
Documents: Pastor's Wife 'Charged at' Gunman
This photo provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows Jalen E. Watson, 21, of Indianapolis.   (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

The 18-year-old accused of murdering Amanda Blackburn during a home invasion robbery claims he shot her after she charged at him, according to court documents seen by NBC News. Larry Taylor told accomplices that the pregnant 28-year-old pastor's wife "charged at him and he shot her somewhere in the upper body so he would not be scratched," an affidavit says. "Taylor then told them that he leaned over her body and shot her in the back of the head. He leaned further, looked at her face, and watched her bleed." Court documents state that Taylor had been left with Blackburn and her 15-month-old son while two accomplices drove around trying to use her ATM cards, the Indianapolis Star reports. They picked him up after successfully withdrawing cash, the documents state.

Court documents, citing a "cooperating individual," state that Taylor said he hit Blackburn in the mouth with his gun as soon as he entered the Indianapolis residence, which was the third burglary he and two accomplices carried out on the morning of Nov. 10, the Star reports. Taylor has been charged with murder, as has alleged accomplice Jalen Watson, 21. The third man, Diano Gordon (or Gordan), 24, has not been charged in the murder, possibly because he didn't enter the residence, NBC reports. The victim's husband, pastor Davey Blackburn, issued a statement saying he was "extremely relieved" by the arrests. "Though everything inside of me wants to hate, be angry, and slip into despair, I choose the route of forgiveness, grace, and hope," he said. "Today I am deciding to love, not hate." (More Indianapolis stories.)

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