LAFAYETTE, IN – A sixth person has been arrested in connection with the shooting of a Tippecanoe County judge and his wife at their home, an attack authorities say was orchestrated by a motorcycle club member to derail his own criminal trial.
Nevaeh Bell, 23, was taken into custody Wednesday and faces 12 preliminary felony charges, including two counts of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, officials said.
Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kim, were shot at their Lafayette home on January 18. The attackers allegedly knocked on the couple’s door claiming “we have your dog” before opening fire when the judge answered. Meyer suffered an arm injury and his wife sustained a hip wound. Both survived.
Authorities say the shooting was orchestrated by Thomas Moss, 43, of Indiana, a member of the Detroit-based Phantom MC motorcycle club with ties to the Vice Lords street gang. Moss was scheduled to stand trial before Judge Meyer on domestic abuse charges just two days after the shooting, investigators said.
Bell is the sixth person arrested in the case. The five previous suspects are Raylen Ferguson, 38, of Kentucky; Zenada Greer, 61, of Kentucky; Moss; Blake Smith, 32, of Indiana; and Amanda Milsap, 45, of Indiana.
Prosecutors allege the group conspired to target Judge Meyer specifically to prevent the domestic abuse trial from proceeding. The scope of the conspiracy — involving six people across multiple states — has alarmed legal observers and law enforcement officials.
Judge Meyer has not returned to the bench since the shooting. The domestic abuse case against Moss has been reassigned to another judge.
The investigation is continuing, and authorities have not ruled out additional arrests.
