A suspected relationship dispute turned deadly in Bloomington, Indiana, after a 23-year-old man allegedly approached a man sitting on an apartment porch and shot him in the head, according to police.
Jaymon Trey Gilreath is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of 24-year-old Noah Slinkard. Investigators say Gilreath believed Slinkard was involved with his former girlfriend, who is also the mother of his child.
The shooting happened on the evening of Thursday, October 8, in the 1000 block of North Illinois Street. Police received reports of gunfire at approximately 8:15 p.m. and arrived to find Slinkard near the front entrance of an apartment with a gunshot wound to the head.
Emergency responders rushed him to IU Health Bloomington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:49 p.m.
Witness Describes What Happened on the Porch
According to investigators, Slinkard had been sitting outside the apartment with another man when Gilreath allegedly walked toward them.
The witness told police he saw Gilreath pull a handgun from his waistband and fire at Slinkard before turning around and walking away. The account became an important part of the investigation as officers worked to establish what happened before and after the shooting.
Several people called emergency services to report the incident. Callers also described a man leaving the area on foot and heading east along West 13th Street.
Officers located Gilreath at approximately 8:23 p.m., just minutes after the initial reports, and took him into custody without incident.
Police later recovered a 9mm handgun in a holster near a park bench along West 13th Street. Investigators believe the firearm was connected to the shooting and seized it as evidence.
Suspected Jealousy Came Up During the Investigation
Investigators say witness statements pointed to a possible motive involving Gilreath’s former girlfriend.
During questioning, Gilreath reportedly told detectives he had a “gut feeling” that the woman had been cheating on him with Slinkard. According to court documents, he said he and the woman had planned to spend time together earlier that day, but she did not respond to his calls or text messages.
He later noticed her truck parked outside her mother’s home and saw Slinkard sitting on the apartment porch.
Gilreath had reportedly driven past the residence with friends before getting out of the vehicle. Investigators say he told his companions he intended to fight Slinkard and warned them to leave if they heard a gunshot.
The account took another turn when Gilreath reportedly said he could not remember the shooting itself. He told investigators he remembered leaving the residence and then realizing he was holding a gun and had shot Slinkard.
Authorities also obtained surveillance footage from the surrounding area that reportedly captured the shooting and Gilreath leaving the scene. Investigators say the footage and witness statements supported their account of the incident.
Suspect Reportedly Called 911
Another significant detail emerged from the initial response: while officers were heading to the scene, Gilreath reportedly called 911 and told dispatchers he had just shot someone.
According to the incident report, he also helped investigators locate the firearm after his arrest. The weapon was subsequently recovered along the route he allegedly took away from the apartment.
Police took Gilreath for a medical evaluation before he was transferred to the Monroe County Jail.
Murder Charge and Upcoming Court Proceedings
Gilreath has been charged with murder in connection with Slinkard’s death. At a preliminary hearing on October 12, he reportedly entered a not-guilty plea. The court did not release him on bond because of the murder charge.
His next scheduled court appearance is a bond review hearing on October 27, followed by a pretrial conference on November 18.
The case remains a criminal proceeding, and the allegations against Gilreath have not been proven in court. He is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty.
