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Last updated on Friday, August 10, 2012
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The same day an Indianapolis man was formally charged in the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy, his home on the city’s east side caught fire, police said.
Firefighters were called to the home at 101 N. Denny Street just after 1 p.m.
RTV6 reporter Jack Rinehart was interviewing shooting victim Jarrell Tucker's mom, Dayna Tucker, near the home of shooting suspect Glenn Beard when they heard a pop and smelled smoke.
Flames and smoke could be seen coming from the windows of the home. No one was found inside. The damage to the home was estimated at $25,000.
Beard, 56, was taken into police custody about 2 a.m. Thursday at the Marion County Jail in connection with the fatal shooting of Tucker, 13.
He was formally charged Thursday afternoon with murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Tucker and another boy tried to rob Beard's brother outside Beard's home Sunday.
Beard came to his brother's aid, punching Tucker in the face several times, and the boys ran off, witnesses told police.
But moments later, the boys came back to the house and confronted Beard, who then chased Tucker into the alley and shot him in the back of the head, according to the probable cause.
Beard was seen speeding away from the scene a short time later, witnesses told police.
Dayna Tucker said she wants justice for her son.
"Whatever it is - the death penalty, execution, injection -- whatever it is, my son is dead," she said. "He shot him in the back of the head. He's 13 years old."
Beard was arrested in 2009 for felony possession of an unregistered gun. He got out of prison last year after serving two years.
Arson investigators were called to the fire scene Thursday.
The Rev. Charles Harrison, president of the Ten Point Coalition, came to the scene of the fire. He said it's not what the community needs right now.
"We're trying to keep people calm, and this is not the way to call attention to Jarrell's life," he said. "His family is dealing with a lot right now."
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers at 317-327-TIPS.
Beard is set to appear in court Friday.
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