Teen charged in shooting outside Pacers Athletic Center enters plea

An Indianapolis teen accused of shooting at a basketball coach at the Pacers Athletic Center in Westfield last year has entered a plea, according to court records.

This week, Elijah Earl, 17, agreed to plead guilty to three felony counts of criminal recklessness in the shooting last November that left a coach’s vehicle, and several other parked cars, damaged by bullets.

No one was injured in the shooting.

As part of the deal, 12 of Earl’s counts, the most serious being attempted murder, have been dismissed.

According to court records, an altercation preceded the shooting, with witnesses describing Earl following the coach outside toward their vehicle and firing multiple rounds as the man tried to drive away.

Westfield police arrested Earl shortly after the Nov. 8 shooting when witnesses identified him as the one who pulled the trigger, court records stated. Hamilton County prosecutors charged him as an adult.

The deal further stipulates that Earl must pay restitution to the owners of the four vehicles that sustained damage in the gunfire. The total amounts to more than $4,300 between.

Earl is scheduled to be sentenced May 23, when his penalties will be determined in Hamilton Superior Court.

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Teen charged in shooting outside Pacers Athletic Center enters plea