Keenan Mardis sentenced to 58 years for murder of Ontario Brown Jr.

The Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office says 16-year-old Keenan Mardis of Chicago has been sentenced for the murder of 16-year-old Ontario Brown, Jr.

According to the prosecutor's office, Mardis had been staying in the Elkhart area, moving from place to place with friends. Officials say animosity between Mardis and his friends escalated a situation that began as a fist fight.

Trial evidence showed that once the fight was over, Ontario Brown began to leave along with one friend.

As Brown was leaving, Mardis demanded Brown’s designer belt but Brown refused.

Mardis pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot Brown in the head.

Mardis and his friends then fled the area, leaving Brown and his friend at the scene.

Brown’s friend and another witness cooperated with officials by testifying about what happened that evening.

Mardis was found guilty of murder at a trial that began on August 17th, 2015 in Elkhart County Circuit Court.

Mardis was sentenced to 58 years in prison.