The killing of 19-year-old Harry Nelson in Cliftonstemmed from a planned robbery involving three people, according to Cincinnati police
Kevin Couch and Matthew Napier, both 19, and 18-year-old Kayden Moore are charged in Hamilton County Municipal Court with murder and aggravated robbery. Napier and Moore appeared in court for an arraignment on Aug. 19 before Judge Janaya Trotter Bratton.
Couch wasn't present in the courtroom, nor is he listed as an inmate of the Hamilton County Justice Center. A police spokesman confirmed that one of the suspects is currently in the hospital.
The trio conspired to rob Nelson and another person of money, a plan that was carried out early morning Aug. 18, according to police. Det. Aubrey Pitts said in court that a struggle
over a gun ensued during the robbery and Nelson wasfatally shot.
Pitts added that one of the men accused of perpetrating the robbery was also wounded by gunfire. The detective's investigation is based on witness statements, arrest reports state, and admissions from the defendants.
Caleb Baum, Moore's attorney, said in court that his client didn't know that Napier and Couch were serious about the robbery plan, adding that Moore never got out of the car.
"He had nothing to do with this," Baum said. "He was somebody that was in a car and got trapped in a bad situation."
Anisha Rakhra, the public defender representing Napier, said that he was unarmed during the alleged robbery. Rakhra said that Napier voluntarily went to speak with detectives about what happened.
"He denies these allegations," Rakhra told the judge.Witnesses told investigators Napier was carrying a weapon, Pitts, the detective said, adding that Napier helped conspire with the other men to carry out the robbery plot.
The judge noted that Napier is currently on probation for a complicity to aggravated robbery conviction in juvenile court. He also has pending charges of assault and receiving stolen property.
Moore is being held on a $1.5 million bond, while Napier's bond was set at $2 million. Their cases are expected to go before a Hamilton County grand jury by Aug. 28.
Enquirer staff writer Cameron Knight contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 3 accused of plotting Clifton robbery that ended in teen's death
