What was reported about the Pearl Drive case
A man who pleaded guilty in the April 2026 shooting death of Ethan Stenftenagle was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, November 2, 2026. The shooting happened in the AMC theater parking lot on Pearl Drive in Evansville. The exact date of the shooting was not stated in the report.
WFIE 14 News reported[1] that Deshawndre Brown of Evansville pleaded guilty to murder and robbery resulting in serious injury. The station also reported that an affidavit identified Brown as the person who fired the shots.
Two co-defendants remain charged, and their cases are pending. Those charges are allegations. Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Evansville Police Department investigated the shooting. WFIE 14 News is the only news outlet identified in the draft, and no source cited here has alleged any failure of security at the property.
What families can do next
If your family loses a loved one to violence, you can ask the prosecutor's victim assistance office for information about the criminal case, victim impact statements, and restitution. Keep copies of police reports, court notices, and expenses related to the death, including funeral and medical bills.
It can also help to organize records while they are available. The firm's guide to preserving evidence after an injury explains why clear records matter, while the first consultation checklist identifies documents you may want to gather before speaking with an attorney.
Why the Evansville location matters
The shooting happened in a commercial parking lot on Pearl Drive in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, and the Evansville Police Department handled the case. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the injury happened or where a defendant lives.
A criminal prosecution and a civil wrongful death claim are separate. Indiana's wrongful death statutes, including Ind. Code 34-23-1-1, allow certain claims when a death is caused by another person's wrongful act. You can read more about the distinction in this guide to survival actions and wrongful death claims.
Most Indiana personal injury and wrongful death claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. The firm's overview of Indiana wrongful death filing deadlines provides additional general information.
Indiana divides fault among those involved under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. Whether a property owner could share responsibility for a crime on its premises depends on the specific facts. Nothing in the cited report suggests that the property owner failed to provide adequate security in this case.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps Indiana families understand how a wrongful death claim may proceed alongside a criminal case, what records may matter, and which deadlines may apply.
No outcome can be promised. If you want to discuss your family's circumstances, the firm offers a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation or related cases may remain ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
