Trial of suspect in fatal shooting of Elwood officer to remain in Madison County

Ken de la Bastide, The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind.
·2 min read

Jul. 19—ANDERSON — The trial of Carl Roy Webb Boards II, charged with the murder of an Elwood police officer, will remain in Madison County.

Madison Circuit Court Division 3 Judge Andrew Hopper on Friday denied a request to move the trial out of the county.

Hopper said the jury would be selected in neighboring Delaware County.

Boards, 44, is charged in the 2022 shooting death of officer Noah Shahnavaz.

Boards is scheduled to go on trial on the murder charge as well as two counts of resisting law enforcement, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, firearm enhancement, habitual offender. Possible sentences include life without parole or the death penalty.

The trial is scheduled for September 2025. Madison County Prosecutor Rodney Cummings has said that the state will seek the death penalty.

Attorney Joe Duepner, representing Boards, said an appeal of the change of venue ruling would be made after the trial.

Boards' attorneys wanted the trial to be moved from central Indiana because of publicity surrounding the death of Shahnavaz.

The state requested the trial remain in Madison County but that jurors be selected in another county and transported to Anderson.

At a prior hearing, Andrew Hanna, chief deputy prosecutor, said a pre-trial questionnaire sent to prospective jurors would determine whether they were aware of the case and had formed an opinion.

Judge Hopper also ruled that Boards was competent to stand trial and can assist his attorneys during the case. Three doctors testified that Boards is competent for trial.

The three doctors all testified that Boards could understand the court proceedings and is capable of assisting in his defense.

Boards is accused of fatally shooting Shahnavaz, 24, through the windshield of his police cruiser early the morning of July 31, 2022, in Elwood during a traffic stop.

Just after 2 a.m., Shahnavaz stopped a 2012 Buick LaCrosse near the intersection of Indiana 37 and County Road 1100 North. Police have not provided a reason for the traffic stop.

Hamilton County officers found the Buick and attempted a traffic stop, but the car continued southbound on Indiana 37. Hamilton County sheriff's deputies pursued the Buick and deployed a tire-deflation device near the area of Indiana 37 and 146th Street.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.