Man, 23, killed during botched robbery

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Summary: On April 14, 2026, 23-year-old Ethan Stenftenagel was fatally shot in the parking lot of AMC Evansville (Indiana) 16 during a botched robbery. He had arranged to sell marijuana vape cartridges to three teenagers when one suspect pulled a gun. Vanderburgh County authorities arrested Deshawndre Brown, 19, Kardae Langley, 19, and Pierce Butler, 18, charging them with murder and robbery.

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — A routine evening outing at the movies turned deadly in mid-April when a young man lost his life in a botched robbery outside a popular theater. The April 14, 2026, shooting in the AMC Evansville 16 parking lot on Pearl Drive claimed the life of 23-year-old Ethan Stenftenagel and left his family and community reeling.

Stenftenagel had arranged to meet three teenagers that Tuesday evening to sell them marijuana vape cartridges. Instead of completing a simple exchange, the encounter escalated into violence. Authorities say one of the buyers, 19-year-old Deshawndre Brown, pulled a gun during an attempted robbery. Shots struck Stenftenagel multiple times in the torso. He was found inside a vehicle near the edge of the lot and pronounced dead at the scene.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office investigators quickly pieced together the sequence. The suspects fled in a vehicle later recovered at a nearby restaurant on Green River Road. Within days, deputies arrested Brown, along with 19-year-old Kardae Langley and 18-year-old Pierce Butler. All three face charges of murder and robbery, with officials indicating more counts could follow and additional arrests remain possible.

Friends and relatives remember Stenftenagel, born February 7, 2003, in Jasper, as a person with roots in southern Indiana who had recently been living in the Evansville area. His obituary describes a young man taken unexpectedly, leaving behind loved ones who now grapple with sudden loss. The case has drawn attention not only for its speed of resolution but also for what it reveals about everyday risks in informal dealings.

Law enforcement officials stress that situations involving cash and controlled substances often carry hidden volatility, especially at night in public spaces. Theater parking lots, typically seen as safe gathering spots for families and friends, became the backdrop for a confrontation that ended in tragedy. Community members have expressed both sorrow for Stenftenagel’s family and concern over youth involvement in such incidents.

As the legal process advances, with at least one suspect recently booked into Vanderburgh County Jail, the case serves as a stark reminder. Families affected by gun violence continue to call for greater awareness around personal safety and conflict avoidance. No amount of hindsight can restore what was lost on that April evening, but the swift arrests offer some measure of accountability for those impacted.

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Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Sources:

Vanderburgh County Coroner’s identification and initial reports

Obituary for Ethan J. Stenftenagel

Latest updates on arrests