19-year-old Kokomo man arrested on murder charge in Lafayette homicide

Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier
Updated ·2 min read
Arrest illustration
Arrest illustration

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Eighteen-year-old Anthony Holdbrook died Jan. 1 during a botched robbery and a struggle over a handgun, according to prosecutors who unsealed a warrant Monday for Amarion Alsup.

Police arrested Alsup around 1:45 p.m. Friday on 11 charges, including murder, robbery and theft.

Holdbrook was supposed to trade his pistol and some case with Alsup in exchange for a different pistol, according to prosecutors, who accused Alsup of setting up Holdbrook to be robbed.

Alsup, 19, of the 1800 block of West Markland Avenue in Kokomo, and four others drove to Lafayette the night of Jan. 1 for what Holdbrook indicated in text messages with a friend was going to be swap of guns and cash.

Alsup and the others parked in the 800 block of North Seventh Street, and Holdbrook appeared reluctant to approach the PT Cruiser the five were in, according to prosecutors.

Holdbrook was talking with Alsup and one of the backseat passengers in the car, when Holdbrook and the backseat passenger began wrestling for control of the pistol, according to prosecutors.

Holdbrook said, "Don't do that."

Then three shots were heard, according to prosecutors. At least one shot killed Holdbrook.

Another shot went through the hand of the backseat passenger, according to prosecutors.

Another witness told police she believed Alsup also fired a shot during the fight.

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Prosecutors have video that shows the PT Cruiser and Alsup at the scene of the crime. They also have video showing the car traveling out of Lafayette.

A few days after Holdbrook's killing, police stopped the PT Cruiser and noticed the man who was shot in the hand had a bandage over his left hand. He told police it was from a dog bit on Dec. 30, but police reported the wound did not appear to be a dog bite,

They also noted that there appeared to be a bullet hole in the car's seat and a bullet's metal jacket inside the car, according to prosecutors.

As of Monday morning, Alsup is the only person arrested and jailed without bond.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: 19-year-old Kokomo man arrested on murder charge in Lafayette homicide