Evansville Teen Convicted After Deadly Fake Drug Deal Ends in Fatal Shooting
The quiet neighborhood surrounding 2800 Lodge Avenue in Evansville, Indiana, was shattered on the evening of March 22, when what was supposed to be a simple marijuana sale turned into a deadly ambush. The tragic chain of events ended with the loss of 19-year-old Dalton Collins, injuries to two others, and the eventual conviction of 16-year-old Isam Rodell Clark for murder.
According to court records and testimony presented during trial, Clark, a teenager with a troubled past, had joined forces with two acquaintances—Derrick Brifil and Ethan Baughn—to stage a robbery disguised as a drug deal. The trio had met earlier while serving time in a juvenile detention facility, where their shared experiences formed a misguided alliance that would later have fatal consequences.
Investigators say the plan was set into motion when Baughn contacted Dalton Collins and Zachary Kiper, convincing them to meet in the parking lot at Lodge Avenue for a small marijuana transaction. Collins and Kiper, both unaware of the deception, arrived expecting a routine exchange. But the other side had no money—only a plan to take whatever they could by force.
Two figures dressed in black masks approached the vehicle. The first, posing as the negotiator, attempted to engage Kiper and Collins in conversation. Moments later, Clark stepped forward, gun in hand, and opened fire. Multiple rounds struck the car, piercing through the metal and glass in a barrage that ended with Collins fatally wounded and Kiper shot in the arm.
Amid the chaos, even Brifil, one of Clark’s partners in the planned robbery, was shot in the stomach, though it remains unclear whether the bullet came from Clark or in the crossfire when Kiper returned fire in desperation.
After the shooting, Clark fled the scene, trying to erase the evidence of what had happened. Police later discovered that he had thrown his blood-stained clothes into a trash bag and attempted to wash them clean, though traces of blood and gunshot residue remained. Officers found spent shell casings at the scene that matched ammunition recovered from Clark’s home. Brifil’s car was parked outside Clark’s residence, further connecting him to the shooting.
In the following days, detectives pieced together the full story through forensic evidence, digital communications, and confessions from the three teenagers involved. Text messages and social media exchanges revealed discussions about the robbery plan. Under questioning, both Brifil and Baughn identified Clark as the one who fired the fatal shots.
During trial, Prosecutor Diana Moers emphasized how the case reflected a growing concern about youth and gun violence, citing the influence of social media in glorifying weapons and crime. “What began as a childish plan to steal ended in irreversible tragedy,” she told the court.
The jury deliberated briefly before finding Isam Rodell Clark guilty on all counts, including murder and attempted robbery. At just sixteen, he faces between 45 and 65 years in prison for the murder conviction alone, with additional penalties possible for the related charges. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 4, before Judge Ryan D. Hatfield.
The Evansville community continues to grapple with the consequences. One family is left mourning the loss of Dalton Collins, remembered as a kind and hardworking young man with big dreams that ended too soon. Another family must come to terms with the reality that their teenage son, Clark, will likely spend most of his life behind bars.
In the words of one police investigator, “Three lives were destroyed that night—one taken, one forever changed, and one lost to the justice system. All because of a decision that never should have been made.”?