Arrest made in murder of Amanda Blackburn, pregnant wife shot during home invasion - pastor/husband
By Jeremy Gray | jgray@al.com The Birmingham News
Indianapolis, IN Article
A teenager has been arrested in the shooting death of Amanda Blackburn, The Indianapolis Star reports.
"The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced early Monday morning that authorities arrested 18-year-old Larry Taylor of Indianapolis on a preliminary charge of murder," the report continued.
"We are thankful to our federal, state and local partnerships that aided in the apprehension of the suspect in this terrible and senseless crime. All victims of criminal homicides deserve closure, and as a community we must send a collective message that violence is not an option," Police Chief Rick Hite said in a press release.
Two others are being held as possible suspects, Fox 59 Indianapolis reported.
"Detectives believe the men entered the Blackburn home, which was unlocked, and confronted Amanda Blackburn, who was at home with her 1-year-old son. Sources say two of the suspects left with Blackburn's ATM card to retrieve money, while Taylor allegedly raped and killed Amanda," the report continued.
Blackburn was shot Nov. 10 and later died at a hospital. She recently had announced she was pregnant. The couple also has a toddler son.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Taylor has an attorney.
Blackburn was the wife of Davey Blackburn, a pastor who attended Shades Valley and Tuscaloosa County High Schools. His father preached for several years at Brookview Wesleyan Church in Birmingham.
Indianapolis police last week released surveillance photos of the suspect in the home invasion.
The couple's unborn child would have been named Everette "Evie" Grace Blackburn, according to a statement on the Resonate Church website. That is the Indianapolis church the couple started in 2012.
"Amanda made it her life's calling to love and serve everyone she knew. Even more, she has made it her life's mission to see as many people as possible come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. In her death and legacy, we truly believe that even more people will come to a saving faith in Christ," the statement read.
"I think the most confusing things in life are when it seems like bad things happen to good people," Davey Blackburn told NBC News in an interview before Taylor's arrest. "Amanda didn't have an enemy in the world. Not one. We don't get it. We're confused and we're distraught."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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