Two charged in the murder of Daniel Henderson on March 13
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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - Two people have been charged with the murder of Daniel Henderson on March 13 in the 4700 block of Belleville Circle, according to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office.
The prosecutor's office charged 21-year-old Jesstin Lottie and 21-year-old Courtney O'Neal, both of South Bend, with murder for their roles in the death of 54-year-old Henderson.
Lottie was charged with one count of murder and a firearm enhancement.
O'Neal was charged with one count of murder and one count of assisting a criminal.
A warrant has been issued for Lottie, who is not yet in police custody.
If you have any information, please call the South Bend Police Department's Detective Bureau at 574-235-9263 or leave an anonymous tip with Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.
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Lottie should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
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On the afternoon of March 13, South Bend Police officers were called to the area for a shots fired report.
At the scene, police found Henderson laying outside near piles of personal items.
Police saw blood on his stomach and medics arrived to take him to the hospital.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
His autopsy determined he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
A witness who is familiar to law enforcement told police that Henderson was staying with his girlfriend at an apartment in the area but that on the day of the shooting, he was told to leave with his belongings.
As Henderson was outside the apartment with his belongings, two people, identified by the witness as Lottie and O'Neal, came outside.
Lottie allegedly tried to take a box of shoes from Henderson's belongings and a fight broke out between the two.
O'Neal then jumped in and at one point, the witness said they heard a loud sound during the fight, reports said.
Lottie and O'Neal eventually ran from the area and Henderson was left laying on the ground, according to police.
Law enforcement obtained a voicemail message that Henderson reportedly left during the incident.
In the voicemail, Henderson is heard telling someone to leave his items alone and to put the gun down.
Another man's voice is then heard warning Henderson that he's going to get shot.
A woman's voice, whom police say is consistent with O'Neal's, is heard encouraging the fight, reports said.
Noises police say are consistent with a physical fight are heard and then the line disconnects.
While processing the scene, officers found ballistic evidence and a shoe box near the scene of the fight.
Behind the apartment's door, footprints lead away from the area.
Video footage from a neighboring apartment showed Lottie and O'Neal running away from the scene, reports said.
Later that same day, O'Neal was brought into the South Bend Police Department for an interview.
According to police, O'Neal had on the same clothing she was seen wearing in the surveillance video.
She admitted to officers that she was at the fight with a man but that she did not know the man, according to reports.
Through the investigation, law enforcement were able to find social media accounts for both O'Neal and Lottie that showed they've known each other since 2021.