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Justin Sprow was driving country roads in northern Wells County on Wednesday night, arguing over the phone.
“He got off the phone and said, ‘We’re gonna have to fight some guys,’ ” said 19-year-old Randy Haney, who was in the passenger seat.
Sprow turned his silver Cavalier around near Wells County roads 800 North and 100 West about 8 p.m. when a black pickup truck with four occupants pulled up suddenly, cutting the pair off, Haney said.
And then the shooting started. Police aren’t sure whether it was just one shooter or several, but six to eight shells were fired, Wells County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Scott Holliday said. The killers fired shotgun slugs, heavy rounds often used to kill deer and other large game, he said.
The four people in the truck were in police custody Thursday night awaiting formal charges.
Haney said he heard the first shot and ducked his head under the dashboard of the car, hoping to stay out of the gunfire. He then bailed out of the car and ran into a nearby corn field, where he called 911.
“They just kept on shooting,” Haney said. “And then they left.”
After the truck drove off, Haney looked up and saw his 19-year-old friend.
Sprow, a BMX rider and former high school wrestler from Uniondale, was shot once in the head and died at the scene, Holliday said.
Investigators believe the shooting was retaliation for a bad drug deal that took place at least two weeks ago.
Hours later, police tracked the people in the truck to their homes in Adams County. Decatur police and Adams County sheriff’s deputies were familiar with the suspects and rounded them up, seizing four firearms – at least one of which was used in the shooting, police said.
They range in age from 17 to 22 and were being held without bail at the Wells County Jail on Thursday night. The prosecutor expects to file formal charges today against all four, Holliday said.
Haney, who police said had no involvement with the supposed drug deal, is still trying to figure out why anyone would want to kill his friend.
He said he can’t help but replay the entire scene in his mind over and over and hasn’t been able to sleep or relax since the shooting.
Sprow competed in BMX bicycle races and was taking online college classes, Haney said.
“Everybody liked him,” Haney said. “He was funny and fun to hang out with.”
