MUNCIE, IN -- A Muncie man has been arrested on allegations he took part in an attempted armed robbery that led to a friend's fatal shooting.
Dwight Devontae "Gucci" Brown, 32, was being held without bond in the Delaware County Jail on Friday, Feb. 6.
He was being held on suspicion of felony murder -- a charge that would allege he took part in events leading to a homicide -- along with armed robbery resulting in death and criminal recklessness with a firearm.
According to an affidavit, Brown on the evening of Dec. 27 accompanied a friend, 28-year-old Marcus Brown Jr., to a home in the 1100 block of East 29th Street, where city police allege the Muncie men intended to commit a robbery.
Melissa Criswell, deputy chief of the Muncie Police Department, later said information gathered by detectives "substantiates that (Marcus) Brown forced his way into the residence while armed" and was shot by a resident of the house.
The affidavit said a doorbell video showed both Browns, each armed with a handgun, announced they were police officers as they tried to enter the house.
Marcus Brown suffered "multiple gunshot wounds" and was later pronounced dead at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
The affidavit alleges Dwight Brown fled from the scene when gunfire broke out, firing two shots from his own gun as he ran away.
City police said they were able to use tracking info on a vehicle and a cell phone to determine Marcus and Dwight Brown were apparently together on the evening of the homicide.
Dwight Brown was arrested Wednesday in a traffic stop on Interstate 74 and was reportedly returning from Lexington, Kentucky, to the Muncie area.
Detectives also said they used doorbell video to determine Dwight Brown had previously visited the East 29th Street home, before the homicide, where he bought marijuana.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman's office will determine whether formal charges will be filed.
The Muncie man who allegedly shot Marcus Brown, 33-year-old Danny Martin Songer, was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of justice and unlawful carrying of a handgun. The obstruction count referred to allegations a box of marijuana was removed from the house after the fatal shooting,
According to court documents, Songer told Muncie police on Dec. 27 he grabbed his girlfriend's handgun "and fired at the intruder until the firearm malfunctioned."
Formal charges stemming from that night's events have not been filed against Songer.
Dwight Brown was already set to stand trial May 18 on two charges -- domestic battery and neglect of a dependent -- filed last September in Delaware Circuit Court 2.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.