INDIANAPOLIS – An Indianapolis man is facing three consecutive life sentences for killing three people over four days in attacks that authorities say he justified by citing the horror movie, The Purge.
A Marion County judge is scheduled Thursday to formally sentence 20-year-old Johnathan Cruz, who pleaded guilty last month to three counts of murder. Prosecutors dropped plans to seek the death penalty.
Get breaking National news
READ MORE: ‘The Purge’ inspired 19-year-old’s 4-day killing spree, authorities say
Cruz was charged with fatally shooting three men during attacks on Indianapolis’ east and north sides last spring. Detectives say a witness told them Cruz confessed he’d been “purging” by shooting and robbing people, referring to the 2013 movie with a plot about violent crime, including murder, being legal one night each year.
- B.C. man who pulled over drivers with fake police lights gets conditional discharge
- Saskatoon police investigating city’s 10th homicide
- Ont. woman accused of stealing from hospital staff, patients faces dozens of charges
- 2 teens charged with murder in connection to pedestrian collision that killed 16-year-old
Prosecutor Terry Curry says the attacks by Cruz were “absolutely random.”
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.