Indy man arrested after execution-style killing at motel

INDIANAPOLIS — A 24-year-old man is under arrest in connection with an execution-style murder that occurred a year ago at a controversial motel on the city's East Side.

Anthony “AJ” Morst, 24, of Indianapolis was arrested last week by Metro Police. He is charged with one count of murder.

Previous reports detail how officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called to the Budget 8 Inn on E. 21st Street on June 25, 2023, after a report that a person had been shot. Officers eventually found Kenneth Lee Barnett Jr., 23, in a motel room suffering from a gunshot wound.

Barnett was pronounced dead at the scene.

Court documents detail how Barnett was killed in an execution-style manner with a pillow used to silence the single gunshot to the head.

Surveillance footage taken from the motel allegedly showed Barnett arriving at the motel with another man. Shortly before 3 a.m., the unknown man was seen quickly leaving the room with a knit mask on his face. The suspect then fled in Barnett's Chevrolet Traverse.

The vehicle was later found abandoned by the suspect near 62nd Street and Georgetown. The rear window was broken.

Court documents reveal how police used cellphone data to determine that Barnett had been texting Morst the night of the fatal shooting.

Further investigation into Morst revealed that Morst allegedly contacted someone in June in the middle of the night. It was Morst saying he had just bought a new car and wanted to bring it. The individual told investigators that Morst showed up in a Chevrolet Traverse with the window broken.

Police said a description of Morst's outfit from that night matched that of the suspect seen leaving the room at the Budget 8 Inn motel.

In February, police gained access to Morst's phone records and discovered he had accessed Budget 8's WiFi on June 25 – last connected at 3am. Police also found selfies of Morst wearing a black knit mask, similar to the one seen in motel surveillance footage. and brandishing a firearm.

Even more damning, investigators discovered text messages between Morst and Barnett, with the two agreeing to meet at the Budget 8 Inn.

On June 12, police officially arrested Morst in connection with Barnett's murder. SWAT helped arrest Morst in the 2300 block of Danford Square.

Morst faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted of murder.