A Michigan City man avoided prison Thursday in his brother’s death.
Julian Ellis, now 41, pleaded guilty June 18 to reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony, and a gun enhancement in the Oct. 22, 2024 death of Claudell Ellis, 44. In exchange, prosecutors dropped a murder charge.
Judge Natalie Bokota sentenced him to two years in prison — time served — and six years on probation. He will not appeal.
Court records show Ellis had just got off the midnight shift in Portage. While driving home, Julian said he and Claudell started arguing when he asked for gas money for giving him rides to their work each day. Julian said his brother threatened to beat him, records state, and he was concerned any blow would aggravate a stroke he had previously suffered.
As Julian pulled up to their mother’s house in Gary, where Claudell lived, he grabbed the wheel, causing the vehicle to crash, Julian told officers.
Once inside the home, Ellis pulled out a gun, intending to just “scare” him, documents state. The other man “lunged” at him, before Julian shot him, records allege.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office ruled that Claudell Ellis’ death was a homicide due to a single gunshot wound to the armpit or shoulder. Charging documents noted he was far enough away not to have traces of gunpowder on him.
Their mother, Patsy Allen, opposed Ellis’ imprisonment from the start, saying it was a tragic accident. After Thursday’s hearing, she said she hoped to be the “voice” of “truth” to bring her son home.
Allen, an Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee for East Chicago Roosevelt, said the experience was a “total nightmare.”
“Everybody wants to make it more than what it was,” Allen said earlier in court on the stand.
Her son, Claudell, she said, would not have wanted to press charges.
Shaundra Wilbourn, Julian’s fiance, said in court the family was close knit. They got engaged only a few days before the shooting and Claudell helped his brother plan the engagement.
Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Lanham said Julian should get 18 years, arguing the plea deal was in line with the “wishes of the family” and what her office could prove at trial.
There was “nothing accidental” about pulling out the gun, she said.
Defense lawyer John Cantrell argued Julian had no criminal record and was very remorseful for the death.
“He has to live with this for the rest of his life,” he said. It was an “argument over gas money.”
Cantrell said he went with Patsy to “mediate” with the prosecutor’s office. It was rare to see a victim’s mother and witness “advocate” for “both people,” he said.
Julian, emotional, apologized in court.
“It shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “I love my brother.”