In a grim scene that deepened community sorrow, 16-year-old Isam Rodell Clark was found guilty on November 3, 2025 in Evansville, Indiana, for the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Dalton Collins during a pre-planned drug-robbery scheme. A jury convicted Clark on charges of murder and two counts of attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.
Clark’s actions took place on March 22 when Collins and his friend Zachary Kiper arrived at 2800 Lodge Ave. to complete a marijuana sale arranged by their acquaintance Ethan Baughn. According to court records, two assailants wearing black approached the vehicle; while the first stalled, Clark — identified as the second — opened fire. Kiper returned fire in self-defense. Collins succumbed to his injuries, Kiper was wounded in the arm, and the other assailant, later identified as friend and co-defendant Derrick Brifil, was hit in the abdomen.
Investigation revealed that Clark, Brifil and Baughn had all been detained together previously in a juvenile facility, which prosecutors say explains their association and conspiracy. The plan was born out of their inability to afford the drugs themselves and instead rob the sellers when they arrived. Brifil’s car was later found parked at Clark’s home, and ammunition and matching shell casings were discovered both at the scene and discarded by Clark in a trash bag outside. Prosecutors described the defendant’s clothes as “wet, like someone attempted to clean them.”
During the trial, Kiper, Brifil and Baughn all testified for the state, placing Clark at the scene as the shooter. Communications before and after the incident further supported the premeditated nature of the attack. Clark’s bag of discarded clothes and matching casings formed a key part of the forensic evidence.
In a statement, Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers emphasized that despite Clark’s youth, his deliberate plan and disregard for human life required full accountability. She underscored growing concerns about juvenile gun possession and the culture of firearm glorification among teens on social media.
Sentencing has been scheduled for December 4, 2025, before Judge Ryan D. Hatfield in Vanderburgh County Circuit Court. Clark faces a possible sentence of 45 to 65 years for the murder count and 10 to 30 years for each of the attempted robbery counts.
Beyond the courtroom, the verdict has resonated in Evansville as law-enforcement officials reflect on a troubling pattern of teenage gun violence. A spokesperson for the Evansville Police Department reminded young people they are “worth so much more” than the tragic path some choose.
This case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a young life and community trust can be shattered — when planned violence meets loaded weapons, and when steps toward help and alternatives are ignored.