Update@5:36 p.m.
Third person sought in the babysitter homicide has just been arrested and is in jail. Evans Cassell III was booked into the Montgomery County Jail about 3:40 p.m.
He was indicted earlier today by a county grand jury in the killing. Two others indicted are already in jail. We’re working on details about the arrest.
Update@3:13 p.m. (April 7):
Three people have been indicted in connection with Taylor Brandenburg’s death, the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s office announced in a press release Friday.
Evans Cassell, 36, Chuckie Lee, 38, and Kara Parisi‐King, 26, all of Dayton, indicted for the shooting death of Brandenburg, 20, the release said.
Here’s a break down of the charges against each one:
Evans Cassell III:
- Two counts complicity to commit murder
- Six counts complicity to commit felonious assault
- One count complicity to commit discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises
- One count having weapons while under disability – prior offense of violence
- One count tampering with evidence
Chuckie Lee:
- Two counts murder
- Six counts felonious assault
- One count discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises
- One count having weapons while under disability – prior offense of violence
- One count having weapons while under disability – prior drug conviction
Kara Parisi‐King:
- Two counts complicity to commit murder
- Six counts complicity to commit felonious assault
- One count complicity to commit discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises
- One count tampering with evidence
- All counts except for the weapons under disability and tampering with evidence charges carry
- 3‐year firearm specifications.
All counts, with the except of the weapons under disability and tampering with evidence charges, carry three‐year Firearm Specifications.
Lee and Parisi‐King are currently in custody in the Montgomery County Jail being
held on $1million bonds. A warrant has been issued for Cassell’s arrest, the release said.
The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned on April 11 at 8:30am.
First report:
DAYTON — Bond was set at $25,000 for two suspects charged with obstructing justice, and a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court judge entered a not guilty plea on their behalf on Tuesday for a couple implicated in the fatal shooting of a babysitter on Huffman Avenue.
The Hankins are accused of hiding suspect Kara Parisi-King in a motel while police searched for her.
A Montgomery County grand jury indicted Krista M. Hankins and Keith A. Hankins on two counts obstructing justice earlier in March.
- Taylor Brandenburg, the babysitter, died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.
- Chuckie Lee, 38, is being held on $1 million bond on suspicion of murder
- Kara Parisi-King, Lee's 26-year-old girlfriend, is being jailed on suspicion of complicity
Chuckie Lee, accused in the murder of the 20-year-old babysitter who was shot and killed on Huffman Avenue, was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday on a prior charge of resisting arrest. However, sentencing hearing has been delayed for at least 90 days because of his new charges.
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Family and friends of Taylor Brandenburg gathered Monday to lay her to rest a week after she was fatally shot.
Sam Martin, a friend of the family, called her death senseless.
"I don't know how you can make any sense or rationalize in any way," he said. "I don't know what good any of this is doing except hurting people's hearts, you know?"
Her family has issued the following statement on Sunday:
“On behalf of our friends and family we would like to thank the Dayton Police Department and their detectives for all of their effort in bringing the alleged killer into custody. We are very grateful for the outpouring of support from our community and beyond. At this time our family is in grieving and please continue to keep us in prayer.”
Visitation was held at Newcomer Funeral Home and Crematory, on Needmore Road, on Sunday.
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Taylor Brandenburg was a woman who loved children and spending time with family, according to her obituary.
"Taylor was a wonderful young lady who loved to spend time with her family," the obituary reads. "She loved kids, especially her many baby cousins, and was excited for the arrival of her first niece, Anastasia. She was known for her sense of humor, often playing jokes on her family and friends. She enjoyed music and being on the go. She will be missed by all who knew her."
The 20-year-old woman was shot and killed March 12 in the first block of Huffman Avenue and police have arrested two suspects in her alleged murder — Chuckie Lee, 38, and Kara Parisi King, 26.
To share condolences, visit Newcomer's website.
RELATED: Babysitter killed wasn't target of Huffman Ave shooting, friends say
The suspects
Kara Parisi-King, 26, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail following arrest at 2580 Col. Glenn Highway on March 18, according to online jail records.
The Red Roof Inn in Fairborn is located at that address.
Parisi-King is charged as an accomplice in the Brandenburg’s murder.
Parisi-King’s boyfriend, 38-year-old Chuckie Lee, is being held on $1 million bond in the county jail on murder and felonious assault charges.
RELATED: 2nd suspect in custody in Dayton babysitter’s shooting death
Lee was taken into custody by Dayton police on March 13, and is being held without bond. An initial court appearance was set for 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 14.
Lee has an extensive criminal history, including serving federal prison time for weapons charges.
“From best we can tell, it was over a money issue. Somebody owed somebody money,” Dayton police Lt. Andrew Booher said Monday afternoon. “It resulted in a verbal altercation and then a fight after that.”
Events leading up to the shooting
A man striking another man in the head with a pool cue at the Glass Hat bar early March 12 preceded gunshots on Huffman Avenue that killed Brandenburg who had nothing to do with the bar fight, according to police.
Evans Cassell III, 36, was arrested at 2:40 p.m. Sunday, March 11, for felonious assault for hitting Tyler Hudson in the head with a pool cue, “causing severe harm” at 3:10 a.m. Sunday, according to a Dayton police report. Cassell’s booking was for felonious assault.
A 911 caller from the bar said, “there’s blood everywhere” and that “there are people outside of the bar threatening to shoot the people inside. We can’t let them leave. There was a big fight that broke out.
“I just wanted to call to make sure in case anything happened.”
Booher said that after the bar incident ended after closing time (3 a.m. with the time change), two sets of vehicles traveled the half-mile or so from the bar on Linden Avenue to the first block of Huffman.
“At about that time, somebody from the bar fight came by and then opened fire, firing several rounds in their direction,” Booher said. “(Brandenburg) ended up being hit.”
The lieutenant said two cars — including one belonging to the Glass Hat 911 caller — were processed into evidence.
“They got out of a car and walked up just close enough to where they could see where everybody was standing by two parked cars and then opened fire there,” Booher said. “(Brandenburg) was going out to see the people out in the street” after seeing cars return via a camera.
The 911 caller from Huffman Avenue who identified herself as the children’s mother and Brandenburg’s cousin said, “I need an ambulance at my house … Somebody just did a drive-by shooting at my house.”
The caller said she came home and gathered her kids before she even knew who was hit.
“I just left the bar and there was some people fighting,” the woman said. “They followed our car and everything, like, I don’t know.”
Dennis Gray, who lives about three blocks away, said he awoke at 3:26 a.m. to the sound of gunfire.
“It was either a single shooter who completely unloaded a large clip or there were multiple shooters,” Gray said, adding that there were too many shots to count. “I really feel for her, feel for the family in that regard. Innocent lives shouldn’t be taken that way, by any means.”
There were at least 37 evidence markers at the scene early Sunday morning, though Booher said some of those could have been items other than shell casings.
“What’s been good is the amount of people we’ve had come forward with information,” Booher said, adding that tips came into several different detectives so he didn’t know a total. He said police want to make sure all of the responsible parties involved are arrested.
A vigil for Brandenburg was held Sunday night at the corner where the shooting occurred.
“It’s important for the community fabric that we strengthen and band together in difficult situations,” Mike Squire said.
“Anytime you deal with a death, it’s always a tragedy, regardless of how it started out,” Booher said. “For this individual, she had nothing to do with the original fighting incident. She was definitely a true victim.”