Man charged in double murder in South Bend

 

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind., --- 52-year-old Joseph Newgent has been charged with double murder, after two people were found dead in a South Bend home on Johnson Street.

On August 9, South Bend Police Department's Violent Crimes unit found 18-year-old Rainie Best, of South Bend and 24-year-old Phil Honer, of South Bend shot and killed in a home on the 800 block of Johnson Street.

Court documents showed through a search warrant investigators found communication between Best and Newgent on Best's cellphone.

According to the court documents Newgent told investigators he arranged to meet up with Best on August 4th, but when he arrived he heard yelling and went inside the home.

Newgent said a verbal altercation occurred between Best and Honer that escalated to a physical altercation. 

The document said neither Best nor Honer were armed during the confrontation, but Newgent said during the altercation he fired a handgun in Honer's direction.

He admitted to shooting Honer and inadvertently shooting Best in the process as well.

Newgent is facing two counts of murder and a fire enhancement charge for his role in their deaths.

He is being held at the St. Joseph County Jail.