Arrests Made In Connection With Shooting Of Red State Judge

Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the January 18 hooting of Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife, Kimberly, at their home in Lafayette, Indiana.

The arrests, announced on January 23, followed a multi-agency investigation and involve charges ranging from attempted murder to obstruction of justice, with allegations of a gang-related conspiracy to disrupt an upcoming criminal trial.

The attack occurred around 2:14 p.m. when a masked man approached the Meyers’ front door in the Saw Mill Run subdivision, claiming to be searching for a lost dog while carrying a retractable leash. After the couple responded without opening the door, the assailant fired two shotgun blasts through it.

Judge Meyer, 66, suffered injuries to his left arm, requiring hospitalization and extended rehabilitation. Kimberly Meyer was wounded in the hip, received treatment, and was released from the hospital that evening. Both are expected to recover.

Doorbell camera footage captured the shooter wearing a silicone mask resembling a white man, a black and gray hooded flannel shirt, a scarf, earmuffs, sunglasses, and exhibiting a distinctive gait and knocking pattern. This matched an incident two days earlier, on January 16, when a similarly dressed individual knocked late at night, posing as a food delivery person with a sack from a local restaurant and a two-liter soda bottle.

The Meyers did not open the door, and the person departed. Additionally, on January 12, a masked man with the same gait approached the Pennsylvania home of a key witness in an upcoming trial overseen by Judge Meyer but left without further interaction. Surveillance from a nearby restaurant linked the January 16 visitor to a Hyundai Kona with a stolen license plate, which was later spotted near the shooting scene.

Discarded items, including the mask, clothing, and leash, were recovered on a nearby street, aiding the investigation.

Prosecutors allege the shooting was a gang-related conspiracy to assassinate Judge Meyer and delay a criminal trial set for January 20, involving defendant Thomas Moss. The plot reportedly escalated after a failed bribery attempt on the witness.

The trial, stemming from 2024 charges against Moss including intimidation with a deadly weapon, domestic battery with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and habitual offender status, has been postponed. A special judge will oversee the new cases due to the conflict.

Among the arrested is Thomas Moss, 43, of Lafayette, who faces attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and related charges with gang and firearm enhancements. As a high-ranking member of the Phantom Motorcycle Club and affiliate of the Vice Lords gang, Moss is accused of masterminding the plot while he was the defendant in the delayed trial.

Raylen Ferguson, 38, of Lexington, Kentucky, a Vice Lords associate linked to Moss, is charged with attempted murder and conspiracy; he is identified as the disguised shooter who carried out the attack. Blake Smith, 32, of Dayton, Indiana, another Phantom member and Moss ally, faces similar charges including assisting by providing the short-barreled shotgun used in the incident.

Amanda Milsap, 45, of Lafayette, is charged with bribery and obstruction for allegedly offering the witness $10,000 to withhold testimony. Zenada Greer, 61, of Lexington, who shares an address with Ferguson, faces assisting a criminal and obstruction charges for helping facilitate travel and vehicle use.

Evidence includes surveillance videos, gait analysis matching across incidents, recovered items with consistent ammunition, vehicle tracking, and witness statements. The Phantom Motorcycle Club and Vice Lords connections form the basis for gang enhancements under Indiana law.

Judge Meyer, a 12-year veteran of the bench and former Lafayette City Council member, announced his retirement at the end of 2026 prior to the incident. In a statement, he thanked law enforcement and reaffirmed trust in the judicial system, noting that violence cannot undermine it.

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush emphasized increased judicial security measures, referencing recent threats to public officials. As of January 23, Moss and Milsap were held in Tippecanoe County Jail, with custody details for others not specified. Initial hearings are pending, and attorney information was unavailable in court records.