Four teens indicted on murder conspiracy charges

Richard Allen Buddy Cox II, Demetrius Lamar Gilmore, Dewayne Turner Jr., all 17, and Anthony Lee Burnett, 18, are charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Cox, Gilmore and Turner all were transferred to the adult court system earlier this year.

The indictments allege the four had plotted to kill Christopher Barger, 19, who they eventually injured. They are also charged in the murder of Jon Carlson, 17. Authorities believe others not yet charged also were involved in the plot.

The indictments allege that the four teenagers repeatedly phoned Barger to lure him to the parking lot of Word Afire Church. Gilmore and Turner then waited “at the designated area” to meet Barger while Cox and Burnett hid in the woods waiting on Barger to arrive with the intent of murdering him, the indictments alleged.

The indictments do not mention Carlson as an intended victim in the alleged plot, although the suspects are accused of premeditating his slaying. Carlson, a runaway from the custody of the state Department of Children’s Services, was shot once in the chest and left lying in the parking lot, where his body would not be discovered for more than three hours.

Barger was shot in the neck as he ran to avoid the gunfire, authorities have said. He drove to his family’s home but collapsed as he reached the front door, Knoxville police have said.