Five Individuals Charged in Connection with Indiana Judge Shooting
Prosecutors have formally charged five people in connection with the targeted shooting of an Indiana judge and his wife, alleging a disturbing conspiracy between members of a motorcycle club and a street gang aimed at derailing a domestic abuse trial. The charges were announced on Friday, 23 January 2026, following a multi-agency investigation that spanned several states.
Alleged Plot to Influence Court Proceedings
According to court documents unsealed on Friday, the attack was part of a calculated plan to kill Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer in hopes of preventing his presiding over a domestic abuse trial. The alleged conspiracy involved 43-year-old Thomas Gregory Moss of Lafayette, described as a high-ranking member of the Phantom MC, a Detroit-based motorcycle club with ties to the Vice Lords street gang.
Moss was scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday in front of Judge Meyer for charges related to beating his ex-girlfriend and firing a gun in her home in 2024. Prosecutors claim that in the weeks leading up to the shooting, a woman named Amanda Milsap approached Moss' ex-girlfriend in Pennsylvania, offering $10,000 on behalf of Moss and the Vice Lords to not testify against him. The ex-girlfriend reportedly refused the bribe.
Details of the Attack and Investigation
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the Meyers' home in Lafayette. Judge Steven Meyer suffered an arm injury, while his wife, Kimberly Meyer, sustained a hip injury. Surveillance footage from the home played a crucial role in the investigation, showing a masked individual carrying a shotgun.
Prosecutors allege that Raylen Ferguson, an affiliate of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation gang, traveled from Lexington, Kentucky, to Lafayette with Zenada Greer several days before the shooting. Ferguson reportedly visited the Meyers' home on 16 January, posing as a food delivery person, before returning on Sunday. According to records, he knocked on the door claiming to be looking for his dog, then opened fire through the door when Judge Meyer responded.
Investigators later recovered the shotgun, along with Ferguson's mask and discarded clothing near the home. DNA analysis matched evidence from the mask to Ferguson. The investigation also traced food Ferguson brought to the house on 16 January to a local restaurant, where surveillance video captured someone matching his description.
Arrests and Charges
Following collaboration between police from Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, as well as U.S. marshals and the FBI, the Lafayette Police Department announced arrests late on Thursday. The five individuals now face a range of charges:
- Thomas Gregory Moss, 43: Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, battery, and intimidation.
- Raylen Ferguson, 38: Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, battery, and intimidation.
- Blake Smith, 32: Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, battery, and intimidation. Smith is alleged to have purchased the shotgun used in the attack in early January.
- Amanda Milsap, 45: Bribery and obstruction.
- Zenada Greer, 61: Helping a criminal and obstruction.
Court records did not list attorneys for the four individuals besides Moss. Ben Jaffee, Moss' attorney in the domestic abuse case, did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Friday.
Judicial Response and Broader Context of Threats
Judge Steven Meyer issued a statement expressing gratitude to law enforcement and emphasising the importance of allowing the judicial process to proceed. Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush announced that a special judge appointment is expected on Monday to handle the case.
This incident highlights a growing concern over threats against judges nationwide. Chief Justice Rush referenced a 2023 security survey in which more than 150 out of 214 responding judges reported being threatened. Similarly, the Wisconsin Supreme Court recorded 188 threats against judges in 2024, up from 74 in 2022, including the fatal shooting of retired Judge John Roemer in 2022 by a former defendant.
In congressional testimony in 2024, the head of the U.S. Marshals Service noted that threats against federal judges have more than doubled over the previous three years, underscoring the escalating risks faced by judicial officials across the United States.
