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Two men were sentenced to decades in prison for their roles in a fatal robbery outside of a gas station on the Indianapolis’ southeast side in January 2021.
Tavon Macklin was sentenced to 70 years for the murder of Justin White in a gas station parking lot in the 2900 block of South Keystone Avenue. After a four-day trial earlier this month, a jury convicted Macklin of murder, attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury as a Level 2 felony, armed robbery as a Level 3 felony, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent Felon as a Level 4 felony.
Macklin is already serving a 58-year sentence in the Indiana Department of Correction for the February 2021 murder of Eugenio Roman. His sentences will be served consecutively.
On the final day of trial in the White murder case, co-defendant John Ziegler pleaded guilty to murder and will serve 45 years in the Indiana Department of Correction for his role in this crime. Ziegler also pleaded guilty to his role in two unrelated major felony cases.
Authorities say White’s murder occurred when he and another man stopped at the southeast-side gas station. White remained in the driver’s seat while the surviving victim went inside the gas station. According to witnesses, Ziegler and Macklin approached the two men and began to rob them. During the robbery, White put his vehicle into reverse and as the car started to move Ziegler and Macklin fired shots at White, striking him twice.
“Both defendants committed a violent and senseless act that night, taking the life of one and threatening the safety of another,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a news release. “Our office remains steadfast in holding those accountable who continue to jeopardize the safety of our neighbors. Thanks to the work of investigators and community members, prosecutors were put in a position to secure justice on behalf of the victims whose lives were forever changed when they simply stopped at a gas station on the way home from work.”
According to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, community cooperation played a significant role in the case, as Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigators produced flyers with photos of the suspects and their vehicle that were distributed to the media, leading to several tips. This ultimately led to the identification of the suspect’s vehicle, Macklin, and Ziegler.
Additionally, the investigation revealed that Macklin and Ziegler were messaging each other on social media, planning the robbery just hours before the incident occurred.
Macklin is facing several additonal charges including attempted murder and criminal recklessness for allegedly shooting at police officers.
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