Shooting of Indiana Judge Linked to Gang Activity
Authorities revealed that the shooting of an Indiana judge and his wife was part of a scheme by a gang aiming to disrupt a trial involving a high-ranking member. Video footage showing the arrest of three of the five suspects has recently been made public.
Lafayette Police Chief Scott Galloway stated that this incident represented more than just an attack on two individuals. He described it as an assault on the rule of law itself, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The motive behind the shooting was tied to Thomas Gregory Moss, who is linked to the Detroit-based Phantom MC motorcycle club and has connections to the Vice Lords street gang. Moss was involved in a domestic violence case set to be heard by Judge Stephen Meyer just days after the shooting.
In 2024, Moss faced charges for assaulting his former girlfriend and discharging a firearm at her residence. He was slated to provide testimony on January 20, only two days following the attack.
In this ongoing case, it’s alleged that a woman named Amanda Millsap received a bribe of $10,000 from gang members to dissuade her from testifying against Moss, which she reportedly turned down.
Legal documents indicate that Raylen Ferguson, an associate of the Vice Lords, visited Meyer’s home on January 16 under the pretext of delivering food, although he left without incident. Two days later, he returned wearing a mask and armed with a shotgun procured by another Phantom MC member.
Ferguson knocked on the door pretending to look for a lost dog, but when the Meyers informed him they didn’t have one, he opened fire through the door, injuring Judge Meyer in the arm and Kim in the lower back. The police later found his discarded mask, clothing, and the shotgun near the scene.
The police, along with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, initiated a manhunt that lasted several days, eventually leading to the arrest of five suspects during simultaneous operations.
Body camera footage shows Ferguson, 38, and another suspect, Blake Smith, 32, both facing charges of attempted murder and conspiracy, among others. Moss was also taken into custody at his Tippecanoe County home, where officers had to instruct him to exit slowly.
Another suspect, Millsap, aged 45, was charged with bribery and obstruction, while Zenada Greer, 61, who was apprehended in Kentucky, faces similar charges. The situation remains intense, with more developments expected as the investigation unfolds.
