Mekhi Anthony Maxwell Obituary, Death;- The name of the person shot and killed during an apparent home invasion has been identified. The coroner says 22-year-old Mekhi Anthony Maxwell died in the shooting on Sweetser Avenue Tuesday afternoon.
14 News was there as police, along with neighbors, filled the streets, all to witness the aftermath of a robbery-turned-deadly. “Two of the subjects fled,” says EPD PIO Anthony Aussieker. “One person is deceased inside the home.”
Officers say someone in the Sweetser Avenue home shot an intruder, killing him. Two others wearing gloves and black clothes got away. “They were seen fleeing out the back of the residence north,” he says. Police say it happened in broad daylight.
“I thought that was kind of odd too and that was very brass for them to come out at 1:45 on a nice day, it’s not like it’s raining or anything,” says Sweetser resident Venus Coit.
Neighbors describe hearing the shot that police say ended the Maxwell’s life. “They’d seen them walking from that direction three of them and right after that they heard a gunshot,” says neighbor Keith Lacrosse. “It didn’t go well for the robbers.” Officers took a number of items from the home including what appears to be a gun.
“It’s a quiet neighborhood, young families, and older established people so it’s a little scary for that to happen,” says Coit. Homeowners say they’re not too worried about the remaining suspects returning. “They’re long gone,” says Lacrosse. “I’m not worried about them being in the neighborhood or anything, heck they could be out of state by now.”
“We are a castle doctrine state, so you are allowed to use that type of force to protect your home, but that’s part of the investigation to determine if that standard was met,” says Aussieker. “The homeowner is cooperative, again the investigation is still very, very brand new.”
Police searched multiple homes and vehicles, which showed evidence of narcotics dealing by Cameron and Christian Thomas. Both suspects were arrested and charged with multiple narcotics related charges. According to an affidavit, Christian admitted to leaving his home after receiving a call stating that his brother Cameron was involved in the shooting on Sweetser Avenue.
He also admitted to removing an AK style rifle and two bags that contained marijuana and THC vape pens. Police say Christian would not admit to selling marijuana from the home on Sweetser Avenue. Police officials are asking anyone with information or surveillance footage of the incident to reach out to them.
