Gang members found to be behind shooting of Lafayette judge, police say
Purdue Exponent January 23, 2026
https://www.purdueexponent.org/city_state/crime/five-suspects-arrested-gang-shooting-coverup-court-case-judge-lafayette/article_eb64b89d-b6c6-4d8e-b844-ccc21632487a.html
The five suspects arrested in connection with the shooting of Judge Steven Meyer Sunday are allegedly part of a motorcycle gang, one of whom reportedly had a trial set to start in Meyer’s courtroom.
According to court documents released Friday, at around 2 p.m. Sunday, a man wearing a grey flannel, hood, and sunglasses knocked on the Meyers’ door on Mill Pond Lane and asked for his dog. Raylen Ferguson, 38, then allegedly fired two shots through the door, hitting Meyer and his wife, Kim, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Ferguson had scouted out the house on Jan. 16 when he posed as a food delivery driver. The Meyers said he had the wrong house and had not ordered anything.
Ferguson fled the scene, and Lafayette police later found his clothes with his DNA near a residence on Windy Hill Drive. A firearm was also located near the shooting. Shotgun shells were reportedly found on the porch of the Meyers’ house.
Ferguson had fled across state lines in a Mitsubishi with an Alabama license plate rented out of Lexington, Kentucky, by an individual named Zenada Greer, 61, according to the affidavit.
Police found a firearm matching the same make and model that had been sold to Blake Smith on Jan. 5. Smith wore a similar flannel to the one seen during the shooting, and Smith had also bought the same ammunition that was found on the porch, the affidavit said.
The serial number from the gun Smith bought matched the one at the crime scene.
Officers previously identified Smith as a high-ranking member of the Phantom Motorcycle Club and are aware that he goes by the name “Red.”
Officers began conducting surveillance on Smith’s residence in Lafayette Monday, according to the affidavit. The residence is under Smith’s name and was previously identified as the clubhouse for the Phantom Motorcycle Club.
Officers are also aware that Smith is a known associate of Thomas Moss, 43. Moss has reportedly been identified as a high-ranking member of the Phantom Motorcycle Club.
Ferguson had also been connected to a gang through a social media post. Ferguson and Moss were also both reportedly governing persons of a business registered in Moss’s name.
During a search of Moss’ residence on June 21, 2024, officers reportedly seized patches that identified the Phantom Motorcycle Club as a 1% club. The patches identified the club as part of the 1% of motorcycles involved in criminal activity.
Moss also currently has pending charges in Superior Court 2, the court Judge Meyer presides over. His trial was set to begin on Tuesday, just two days after the shooting happened.
Amanda Milsap, 45, reportedly called a victim who was scheduled to testify in Moss’ case and asked her to drop it in exchange for $10,000 a few weeks prior to the shooting.
Greer, Moss, Smith, and Ferguson were all found to be associated with each other on various social media accounts. Greer and Ferguson also share a residential address in Lexington, Kentucky.
Charges
Ferguson, from Lexington, Kentucky, is facing 10 preliminary charges, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery by means of a deadly weapon, intimidation with a deadly weapon, and attempted obstruction of justice. Ferguson also has a gang and firearm enhancement added to his charges.
Moss, from Lafayette, is facing preliminary charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in a serious bodily injury, battery by means of a deadly weapon, intimidation, and obstruction of justice. Moss, who is a habitual offender, also has a gang and firearm enhancement added to his charges.
Smith, from Lafayette, is facing preliminary charges including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated battery, battery resulting in a serious bodily injury, battery by means of a deadly weapon, intimidation, and assisting a criminal, providing a deadly weapon. Smith, who is a habitual offender, also has a gang and firearm enhancement added to his charges.
Milsap, from Lafayette, is facing charges of bribery and obstruction of justice.
Greer, from Lexington, Kentucky, is facing charges of assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice.
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