***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2015

FORMAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST KEENAN MARDIS FOR DECEMBER MURDER OF ONTARIO BROWN

Media Contact: Curtis T. Hill, Jr. (574) 296-1888

On February 9, 2015, Keenan J.P. Mardis, 16, of Chicago, was charged with the crime of Murder for killing sixteen year old Ontario Brown in the Washington Gardens complex in December 2014. Although few details will be released due to the pending nature of the case, the victim had been in a physical altercation with an acquaintance of Mardis immediately before the shooting. Mardis then confronted Brown and shot him in the head. Brown died from his injuries.

Yesterday afternoon Judge Terry Shewmaker, judge of the Elkhart Circuit Court, issued a warrant for Mardis’ arrest. Mardis was arrested yesterday evening by officers of the Elkhart Police Department. It is anticipated that an Initial Hearing will be scheduled in the case for Thursday, February 12, 2015, at 8:30 am in the Elkhart Circuit Court.

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“Under Indiana law, all persons arrested for a criminal offense are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”