■
They are both accused in the
death of an Indiana State Police
trooper. Well, someone hit and killed
33 year old State Trooper Aaron Smith
during a chase on Ronald Reagan
Parkway near I-70 late last nig.
We brought this coverage breakio
you yesterday and we have contig
team coverage tonight as we speak with
those who knew Trooper Smith be.
So let's start with Lauren Kost.
Yeah, really tough day for all
those who knew and loved
the Trooper and she joins us lin
studio with the latest and where
investigation into his death stands tonight.
And Felicia, as you mentioned,
those two teens are now behind
bars in Hendricks County and we
have also learned tonight that
they are both from Missouri.
It's definitely a difficult case
as State Police not only deal
with this investigation but also
the loss of one of their own.
Off this truck, Off this truck a
chaotic scene on Ronald Reagan Parkway.
We're playing a tourniquet to
after a police pursuit
comes to a horrific end.
State police saying troopers
attempted to stop a stolen car,
leading them on a chase through
the city's southwest side.
As they approached the Parkway near I-70,
Trooper Aaron Smith got out of s
vehicle to deploy stop sticks.
That's when the car turned and hit him.
This vehicle went over the guardrail,
flipped several times. The drivr
isn't trapped in the vehicle.
The 33 year old trooper was
taken to Eskenazi Hospital where
he later died. Ching Trooper
was one of the best of us.
He'd been on the department
about five years. Ready
to. He didn't. He didn't survive tonight.
Thursday, state police arrested
two teens from Sikeston, MO,
which is about 5 hours from Indianapolis.
According to state police.
The driver, Eddie Jones Junior,
was arrested for murder.
The passenger, Demarion Curry,
was arrested for auto theft.
Police also say a missing 15 year old
girl from Missouri was also in that SUV.
Right now she is not facing cha.
And overnight,
a sign of support as officers
escorted Trooper Smith's body to
the Marion County Coroner's off.
A salute to his sacrifice and service.
Please don't worry about me,
but worry about them.
Worry about this family.
Worry about these young troopers that
were out there and saw this hap.
That will haunt me and keep me awake.
As for what's next in this investigation,
Superintendent Doug Carter says
they are reviewing video of what
happened and statements from
those troopers who witnessed it.
Also, the Hendricks County prosecutor
is looking at the charges and will make
a final decision in the coming .
Thank you so much, Lauren.
And a lot of people in Johnson
County knew Trooper Smith.
He lived in Franklin but
grew up in Whiteland,
even graduating from Whiteland High School.
Emily Longnecker is at the India
State Police Post District 52.
That's where the Troopers car
now is on display. Emily. Well,
this is where the public can come and
pay their respects to Trooper S.
You can see behind me someone
already left Flowers for him,
and in the days to come,
no doubt more Flowers and tributes will
be left to a man Those who knewm
say thought of everyone but him.
Smith graduated from Whiteland
High School in 2008 and that's
where he played football and was
also on the wrestling team.
The school's former athletic director
said he wasn't surprised when Sh
became an Indiana State trooper.
He's what you would want to be ,
you know, police officer
because he was going to be kind.
He was going to be fair.
He was going to worry about
the individual more than what?
What? What his job was.
Indiana State Police Superintent
Doug Carter called Smith a
shining star last night.
Coming up tonight at 6:00,
we'll tell you how the Indiana
State Police already recognized
Smith a few months ago and why.
We'll also tell you how Smith
also served his community,
state and country beyond just
wearing in Indiana State Police
uniform on the East Side.
Emily Longnecker, 13 News.