The moment Orie Dodson, 13, disrespected a dead gang member over Instagram Live to members of the 49th Avenue Boys, he was a marked target.
“That was Orie signing his death warrant,” Deputy Prosecutor Tim Brown told jurors in closing arguments.
After a seven-day trial, jurors started deliberating Tuesday for Kriston Barbee, now 18, of Chicago, charged with murder in Dodson’s Feb. 15, 2023 death. Dodson was found shot three times in the back in front of Gary’s Power & Light Church, 1351 Lincoln St.
Prosecutors allege Barbee, co-defendants Dahvee Brunson and Elijah Porter went “sliding” — targeted Dodson in a drive-by shooting. All three are facing a murder charge, plus firearm and criminal gang enhancements.
Authorities believe on a two-way Instagram Live video, Dodson was disrespecting Julius “Chop” James IV, 24 — a “revered” and “untouchable” figure in the 49th Avenue Boys gang, according to court records. James was gunned down in Gary on Feb. 11, 2019.
That was the motivation that led to Dodson’s death.
In closing arguments, Brown argued Barbee’s role was mapped out in cell phone location data that put him at the crime scene, texts, Instagram Live videos and rap lyrics he recorded on gang life.
The day after Dodson’s death, Barbee texted the boy was “Playing GROWN MAN GAMES BABY,” then adding “Delete that,” court records show.
It was actually Barbee who was, Brown said, helping to gun down a kid. The texts cited a news article that someone left a gun clip at the crime scene.
“How would he know that if he wasn’t there and he wasn’t the third shooter,” he asked.
Brown said those recorded rap lyrics provided a window into his mindset. Some appeared to show Barbee was fine with killing someone so young in Gary, the prosecutor said.
“We catch an opp (rival) and wipe ‘em down (for real),” one lyric read.
Brown said there were no weapons recovered. He argued texts showed Barbee may have helped get rid or sell incriminating guns.
“He’s not an idiot,” he said.
Brown argued Porter’s former girlfriend Ladaisha Baker lied on the stand Friday to downplay her own knowledge of what happened.
Defense lawyer Casey McCloskey argued prosecutors didn’t have direct evidence, including witnesses who saw what happened.
“Have they had one,” he asked.
There was no camera footage of the shooting. No direct evidence the murder weapons were sold. The Youtube rap videos meant nothing, McCloskey said. There were lots of songs that glorify violence.
They are saying, “that has to be the crew that did it,” he said.
There was nothing proving Barbee was in the vehicle, the lawyer said.
“If they actually had a single, solitary witness..they would have called them,” McCloskey said. They were “woefully short on evidence.”
Evidence linked Porter and Brunson, McCloskey said.
Barbee’s case was “death by 1,000 cuts.”
Brunson and Porter are awaiting trial.
During the investigation, the Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force was able to uncover substantial evidence of gang-related crimes involving the 49th Avenue Boys gang including several homicides, drug dealing, illegal firearm possession and sales, and general crimes of violence throughout Lake County.
The task force, consisting of detectives from the Gary Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Indiana State Excise Police, and the East Chicago Police Department, conducted the investigation, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Indiana.