Man sentenced for involvement in New Albany car shooting

NEW ALBANY — A man involved in a shooting that nearly killed two people in New Albany was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Darion Whitehead, per a plea agreement that was reached with prosecutors, was charged with attempted murder and two counts of aggravated battery in Floyd Superior Court on Monday.

“We’re satisfied with the outcome,” said Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane.

According to a probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 3, 2023, New Albany Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of Graybrook Lane and Morgan Avenue regarding a shooting.

A car was found crashed into a tree, and a male and female victim were shot.

The affidavit states that the female victim was later questioned and said that the vehicle she was in was registered to her brother. She was borrowing the car to pick up the male victim from work, she said.

She said Whitehead and her brother were in an argument earlier that night before she was shot and thought maybe her brother was the intended target.

Surveillance footage shows a black SUV waiting in a parking area as the other car with the two victims drives up. Those inside the SUV then shoot and drive away.

Through interviews, investigators found out that Whitehead was apparently involved in the shooting with Austin Alexander, Devontea Cousins and an unidentified individual who talked to officers about the shooting and identified those involved.

Whitehead, along with the other perpetrators, apparently had a “beef” with the female victim’s brother.

The affidavit says an officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Feb. 9 on a black SUV registered to Tyreese Lathan, a friend of the group who borrowed his vehicle for the alleged shooting. Those interviewed during the investigation had pointed out that that vehicle was probably owned by Lathan. Lathan drove and then ran away from the police, and police acquired the vehicle.

Cousins has a pretrial conference scheduled for April 25, and a jury trial scheduled for July 22. Alexander was sentenced in July 2023.

Lane said prosecutors did prepare and collect evidence for the case despite the plea deal and is hoping this sentencing will demonstrate that the use of weapons in residential neighborhoods to inflict harm on others will be punished.

“This is unconscionable in our community,” Lane said.