Indiana

Prosecutor: Drug deal turned robbery preceded hit-and-run collision in Crawford Park

St. Joseph County Metro Homicide and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office released new details regarding the circumstances they say led to the hit-and-run collision which claimed the life of a teenage boy.

Troy Mapes, 16, and three other individuals went to Crawford Park in Mishawaka on Friday, Feb. 19, to meet Zachary Sanders, 20, for an alleged drug deal, according to St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter.

Instead of completing the transaction, Mapes and another person robbed Sanders of cash at gunpoint, Cotter stated.

Mapes and the other man ran from the vehicle after the alleged robbery. Sanders then drove his vehicle in the direction of Mapes and the other person and ran over Mapes.

Mapes died at Memorial Hospital in South Bend around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The three other people who went to the park will face robbery charges, according to Cotter.

Sanders was charged with voluntary manslaughter, Cotter stated.

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit is asking for anyone with information regarding this case to contact them at 574-235-5009.

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