UPDATE: Jaylen M. Drone (21) is in custody and booked into the Vanderburgh County Confinement
Center in reference to this incident. Drone is being charged with Murder and Burglary. The investigation
identified Drone as one of the three suspects who broke into the home in the 3000 block of Sweetser Ave. A
warrant has been issued for the second surviving suspect.
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On 5/13/2025 EPD officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Sweetser Ave in reference to a
Burglary in Progress. The caller stated three subjects broke into their home and their son shot one of them. The
caller did not believe the person who had been shot was alive. The two remaining subjects fled the scene. The
caller provided a description of two black male subjects wearing all black, masks and rubber gloves. The caller
was not present during the incident.
Officers arrived and located the subject who had been shot. It was confirmed that this person was
deceased. Officers cleared the residence to ensure no one else was inside, then secured the home for further
investigation.
The resident who shot the burglar fully cooperated with officers and detectives at the scene. This person
was transported to EPD Headquarters for an official interview. During the interview, the resident explained that
they were inside the home when they heard a loud noise. When they looked to see what the noise was, they sawEvansville Police Department
15 NW Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Evansville, Indiana 47708
TX: 812-436-7896 – TDD: 812-436-7975 – FAX: 812-435-6175 – EMAIL: info@evansvillepolice.com
three armed subjects forcing their way into the home. All three subjects were described as black males, wearing
all black, face masks and gloves. The resident used his own handgun to fire toward the three subjects, striking at
least one as the other two fled the home.
As part of the ongoing investigation, police searched multiple homes and vehicles. These searches
showed evidence of narcotics dealing by Cameron and Christian Thomas. Cameron and Christian were both
arrested and charged with multiple narcotics related charges. The two subjects who fled the scene have not been
apprehended, but there does not appear to be a threat to the general public in this incident. Anyone with
information is asked to contact the Adult Investigation Unit at 812-436-7979 or EPD Tipline at 812-435-6194
