Kenron Laing found not guilty

Kenron Laing, 24, of Crown Point, Indiana, was acquitted last week in the shooting death of 39-year-old Gildardo "Gil" Garcia Salinas from November 2022.

The four-and-a-half day trial culminated with less than an hour of deliberations from the 12-person jury. Judge Kelsey Hanlon presided.

Laing was represented by public defenders Jacob Fish and Megan Schueler.

As previously reported by The Owen News, at the time of his arrest, Laing was stationed at Fort Liberty as a Private First Class as a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 82nd Airborne's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, according to a Nov. 20, 2024 article from Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper reporting on matters concerning members of the United States Armed Forces. Stars and Stripes also reported that Laing enlisted in the Army in August 2023.

Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg, is one of the largest military installations in the world by population, with over 52,000 military personnel.

Throughout the trial, Laing wore his Army Green Service Uniform. The court granted a motion to allow Laing to wear his uniform.

During the opening statement, Prosecutor Ben Kim described what they alleged happened on the evening of Nov. 2, 2022. Salinas was working at a Motel or Studio 6 in Fishers as a landscaper for New Wave. During his shift, Salinas found an iPhone, which he ended up taking home.

That iPhone belonged to Laing. And it was during the retrieval of that phone from Salinas at his home located in northern Owen County that the altercation leading to his death took place.

The prosecution defined murder for the jury, explaining in order to find the defendant guilty that the state statute requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant knowingly or intentionally killed another human being.

In her opening argument, Schueler said that Laing used the "Find my iPhone" feature on a newer phone to try to retrieve his older phone and that much of the content from the older phone had not yet been transferred over.

She addressed one point of contention early, saying that Laing, who is originally from the Bahamas, wore a face covering because of the cold weather. She said that Laing didn't call the police because he simply thought he could knock on the door to retrieve the item. Then, she said, Salinas would not let Laing leave, that Salinas shot his shotgun and Laing recklessly shot the revolver that he had a concealed carry permit for in order to create cover and get away.

She argued that Laing's reckless shooting was in self-defense.

Forensic pathologist Bamidele Adeagbo testified as to the closeness of the revolver when fired due to stippling and soot. However, he struggled to offer specifics as to the distance range for the various definitions.

Throughout the trial, much of the physical evidence placing Laing at the scene went undisputed. This evidence included testimony that the test bullets matched the projectiles retrieved during Salinas' autopsy, the location of Laing's cell phone and the location of his sister's cell phone.

As a result, the state struggled to prove whether or not Laing knowingly or intentionally killed Salinas.

The prosecution pointed to security footage from the home in which "get out" could be heard, as well as the 9-1-1 call in which Salinas' fiancée, Brandy Pocasangre, claimed Laing was trying to break in.

They also offered eyewitness testimony from Pocasangre and her now 16-year-old daughter. The Owen News is not releasing the name of the minor who offered testimony.

Schueler disputed the credibility and pointed out some inconsistencies in the testimony and earlier interviews with police for both eyewitnesses.

Laing's sister testified as a witness for the prosecution; however, she said that she did not see the incidents that took place in front of the home, as she was in the vehicle parked across the street at Jim McHugh's auto repair business, Jim's Equipment Repair. She testified that she did not have her glasses and was unable to see.

Laing took the stand to testify on his own behalf and was the only witness offered by the defense. Laing said he did not call the police because he believed it to be a civil matter.

He described opening the gate around the front of the property and knocking near the closed storm door while the front door was open. He said that he knocked several times and that he watched as the minor got a parent. He said he did not leave because he did not want them to "think he was on some funny business."

He described being shocked by the sudden appearance of Salinas and being told to go to the southside of the property, where he was held at gunpoint. He then said that he ducked as Salinas fired the shotgun and used his weapon to escape.

The Owen News will update this story as more details are released.