Lizton Guardsman slain buying iPad, police say

National Guardsman James Vester survived a one-year tour in Iraq.

But he was killed back home when police say he went to buy an iPad.

Police on Friday arrested two teen brothers and were holding them on preliminary charges of murder and robbery in connection with the Wednesday slaying of the 32-year-old Lizton resident. Tryon Kincade, 19, and Tyshaune Kincade, 18, both of Indianapolis, were being held without bond in the Marion County Jail.

The veteran Indiana Army guardsman was slain during a 4 p.m. robbery in the parking lot of the Wyckford Commons apartment complex, 900 Wyckford Drive. Vester was trying to buy an iPad from a seller he contacted on Craigslist, a family acquaintance and law enforcement sources said.

The slaying and arrest have Vester’s family and friends trying to make sense of the incomprehensible. They said Vester lived for his wife, Jamie, and 1-year-old son, Gavin.

Vester had just gotten a new job as a military mechanic and was helping Jamie with a new career. He liked to lift Gavin in the air, make funny faces and watch Gavin smile back.

He would never do anything to jeopardize their happy family, friends said.

“He knew it wasn’t the best neighborhood, that’s why he went in the middle of the afternoon,” said family friend Sarah Hill about Vester’s arrangement to buy the tablet. “He was being careful.”

The killing was the latest in a spate of recent fatal shootings in which victims have been slain or injured during robberies.

Earlier this week, prosecutors charged Adrian Anthony with murder in the slaying of a construction worker on Gray Street during a robbery attempt. Anthony, 20, Indianapolis, already was a suspect in two brutal home invasions on the Northside.

On Tuesday, a 26-year-old father of four was fatally shot in Lawrence as he warmed up his car. Police said Fernando Garza was a robbery target. No arrests have been made.

“It’s senseless,” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Christopher Bailey said. “Some of our young people seem to have a lack of respect for life. We wish we had an answer as to why.”

Vester’s slaying also comes as Indianapolis races toward its highest homicide total in five years.

As of Friday, there had been 112 homicides in IMPD’s jurisdiction, the most since 114 were recorded in 2008 and the first time the city has exceeded 100 homicides since then.

Run-ins with police

Tyshaune Kincade was taken into custody at about 7 p.m. Thursday after a traffic stop in the 7500 block of Pendleton Pike, according to a police report.

Police said he was driving a 1998 white Buick without a driver’s license, and the car’s license plate was registered to another car.

Police confiscated three black cellphones found inside the car and two more phones found in Tyshaune’s pockets. When the arresting officer ran Tyshaune’s name in a police computer, he was informed the teenager was wanted for questioning by homicide detectives.

Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson said the cellphones could be used as evidence in the murder and robbery charges, but she would not elaborate.

Details about where Tryon Kincade was arrested were not available, but the brothers were stopped by police last month in the same car near where Vester was slain.

On Nov. 3, an Indianapolis police officer pulled the Buick over in the 6000 block of West 10th Street. Tryon Kincade was driving the car, and Tyshaune Kincade was in the front passenger seat.

The officer said he smelled marijuana when he approached the car, but Tryon told him that someone else had been smoking in it, a police report said. Tyshaune was arrested on a charge of possession of paraphernalia after the officer found a marijuana pipe.

Tryon was given a citation for driving with an expired license plate.

Prosecutor’s office spokesman A.J. Deer said the brothers had no adult felony convictions.

They were arrested in January 2012 on battery charges after a 32-year-old man told police they had pelted him with chunks of asphalt in the 8000 block of Pendleton Pike, according to a Lawrence police report.

In September 2011, the brothers were arrested after they allegedly threatened two 13-year-old girls with a handgun, according to a police report.

Proud father and Guardsman

Hill, the family friend of the Vesters, said the Guardsman was proud to be a father. A photographer, she said she shot the Vester family’s paternity pictures when son Gavin was born.

She said many fathers grumble and complain or don’t cooperate at photo sessions, but Vester was just the opposite.

“He wanted to be a good husband and father his entire life,” Hill said. “Jim is one of those guys who is just a really genuinely good guy who loved being a dad.”

When Gavin turned 1 in November, Hill shot some birthday photos.

“Gavin’s face lit up every time Jim grabbed him and lifted him up,” Hill said. “Jim truly felt like the luckiest man in the world.”

“They were just overjoyed to be parents,” Hill said. “Their happiness just made you want to be around them.”

Hill said Vester’s wife, Jamie, was a graphic designer who switched to a photography career about a year ago. Hill said she mentored Jamie, and Vester helped out when she shot weddings.

“He would go as her assistant, carrying equipment for her, like lenses, and sometimes shooting backup pictures as well,” she said. “Anyone could tell they were made for each other.”

Vester graduated from Yorktown High School in Delaware County in 2000 and was a sergeant first class in the Indiana Army National Guard, serving a one-year tour in Iraq starting in June 2005.

He had joined the guard in 2002 and was assigned to the A Company 138th Signal Battalion in Anderson as a utilities equipment repair soldier. He also worked in 638th Aviation Support Battalion, the 113th Support Battalion and 38th Infantry Division.

Vester recently accepted a civilian position with the Guard working in a vehicle maintenance shop in Indianapolis. He had worked there previously as a mechanic in the automotive section.

“During this time, he proved himself to be one of the most proficient and reliable mechanics in the automotive section,” the Indiana Army National Guard said in a statement.

Vester in 2007 joined the ceremonial unit, which appears at funerals and other special occasions.

“If you know Vester, you would know that he had a special gift to pick out good restaurants,” the unit said in a statement. “We didn’t tell that was why we chose him for the team.”

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at (317) 444-2762. Follow him on Twitter: @john_tuohy.

Run-ins with police

Tyshaune Kincade was taken into custody at about 7 p.m. Thursday after a traffic stop in the 7500 block of Pendleton Pike, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department report.

Police said he was driving a 1998 white Buick without a driver’s license and the car’s license plate was registered to another car.

Police confiscated three black cellphones found inside the car and two more phones found in Tyshaune’s pockets. When the arresting officer ran Tyshaune’s name in a police computer, he was informed the teenager was wanted for questioning by homicide detectives.

Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Denise Robinson said the cellphones could be used as evidence in the murder and robbery charges, but she would not elaborate.

Details about where Tryon Kincade was arrested were not available, but the brothers were stopped by police last month in the same car near where Vester was slain.

On Nov. 3, an Indianapolis police officer pulled the Buick over in the 6000 block of West 10th Street. Tryon Kincade was driving the car and Tyshaune Kincade was in the front passenger seat.

The officer said he smelled marijuana when he approached the car, but Tryon told him that someone else had been smoking in it, a police report said. Tyshaune was arrested on a charge of possession of paraphernalia after the officer found a marijuana pipe.

Tryon was given a citation for driving with an expired license plate.

Prosecutor’s office spokesman A.J. Deer said the brothers had no adult felony convictions.

They were arrested in January of 2012 on battery charges after a 32-year-old man told police they had pelted him with chunks of asphalt in the 8000 block of Pendleton Pike, according to a Lawrence police report.

In September of 2011, the brothers were arrested after they allegedly threatened two 13-year-old girls with a handgun, according to a police report.

Proud father and Guardsman

Hill, the family friend of the Vesters, said the Guardsman was proud to be a father. A photographer, she said she shot the Vester family’s paternity pictures when son Gavin was born.

She said many fathers grumble and complain or don’t cooperate at photo sessions but Vester was just the opposite.

“He wanted to be a good husband and father his entire life,” Hill said. “Jim is one of those guys who is just a really genuinely good guy who loved being a dad.”

When Gavin turned 1-year-old in November, Hill shot some birthday photos.

“Gavin’s face lit up every time Jim grabbed him and lifted him up,” Hill said. “Jim truly felt like the luckiest man in the world.”

“They were just overjoyed to be parents,” Hill said. “Their happiness just made you want to be around them.”

Hill said Vester’s wife, Jamie, was a graphic designer who switched to a photography career about a year ago. Hill said she mentored Jamie and Vester helped out when she shot weddings.

“He would go with as her assistant, carrying equipment for her, like lenses, and sometimes shooting backup pictures as well,” she said. “Anyone could tell they were made for each other.”

Vester graduated from Yorktown High School in Delaware County in 2000 and was a sergeant first class in the Indiana Army National Guard, serving a one-year tour in Iraq starting in June 2005.

He had joined the guard in 2002 and was assigned to the A Company 138th Signal Battalion in Anderson as a utilities equipment repair soldier. He also worked in 638th Aviation Support Battalion, the 113th Support Battalion and 38th Infantry Division.

Vester recently accepted a civilian position with the Guard working in a vehicle maintenance shop in Indianapolis. He had worked there previously as a mechanic in the automotive section.

“During this time he proved himself to be one of the most proficient and reliable mechanics in the automotive section,” the Indiana Army National Guard said in a statement.

Vester in 2007 joined the ceremonial unit that appears at funerals and other special occasions.

“If you know Vester, you would know that he had a special gift to pick out good restaurants,” the unit said in a statement. “We didn’t tell that was why chose him for the team.”

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at 444-276 and follow on Twitter @john_tuohy.