Robert E. Trey Scott, III was 33 when he was shot and killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 28, 2021, in Muncie. Police were called to the 2200 block of West 9th Street about 4:30 a.m. after reports of shots fired. Scott was found in a backyard with at least one gunshot wound, taken to a hospital, and later died of his injuries.

Investigators tied the shooting to a domestic dispute involving Scott’s ex-girlfriend, Morgan Bell, and her friend Brandon Hodge. Bell and Hodge had driven to Scott’s home in a silver PT Cruiser; Bell went inside to retrieve personal items, including an urn containing her child’s ashes. According to court documents, Scott followed Bell outside, approached a vehicle in an alley, and allegedly struck the back of the Cruiser with an object. Hodge then opened the car door and fired a shotgun, firing additional rounds as Scott tried to flee. No gun was recovered at the scene; Scott was found with a pipe wrapped in black electrical tape.

Digital evidence cited in charging documents included a Facebook Messenger message from Bell saying just thinking about killing Trey and a web search for how to clean gunpowder from your car on a phone linked to Bell. Both Bell and Hodge were arrested and charged with murder.