Johnathan Cruz: Teen Who Went On ‘The Purge’-Inspired Killing Spree Faces Death Penalty

An Indiana teenager who went on a killing spree inspired by the film The Purge will face death penalty, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

New York Daily News reports that 19-year-old Johnathan Cruz is accused of murdering three people in Indianapolis between May 12 and May 15. He’s also charged with robbing another person at gunpoint. Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said that the prosecution is seeking the death penalty against Cruz, due to the heinous and senseless reasons for the killings.

“The killings that occurred here are beyond senseless. (The victims) were killed for no reason whatsoever….Quite simply, we allege that these were killings for sport.”

Prosecutor Curry is seeking death penalty against Johnathan Cruz accused of "Purge" killing spree in May @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/SPfvya3bSy

— Julie Pursley (@JuliePursley6) July 26, 2016

Cruz’s merciless killing spree started on May 12, on the 3900 block of North College Ave., when he reportedly shot Billy Boyd, a complete stranger, twice in the head. Over the next few days, Cruz reportedly shot and killed two other people, Jay Higginbotham and Jose Alberto Ruiz.

A police report indicates that Higginbotham was found dead on the 900 block of North Denny Street from gunshot wounds. Ruiz was found at the corner of East Washington St. and North Linwood Ave. inside his vehicle, dead from shotgun wounds.

Cruz, the father of a baby girl, went by the name Suv Hana on Facebook. After his arrest, a friend took over his account and posted, “Free My Bro????, They can’t hold you for something you didn’t do… we miss and love you???? #FreeSav.” The account was eventually shut down.

Prior to the shootings, Cruz told several witnesses that he wanted to do a “Purge-style” shooting or “purging,” reminiscent of the 2013 film The Purge. One of the witnesses, a minor female who claimed Cruz was her drug dealer, said that he told her he killed a man by shooting him in the back of the head. He reportedly showed her the video of the shooting. She said she heard gun shots on the video and saw a man’s body falling.

On May 14, Cruz allegedly robbed a man with the help of an accomplice. The victim told police that two men took his wallet and two cellphones. The accomplice was later identified as Steven Clark. He also goes by the name Rayvaughn Wood. Clark told police that Cruz was a violent man with “no heart.”

CBS WTTV reports that Indianapolis Police Chief Troy Riggs stated that he felt the Cruz case felt “different” from the beginning. He believes there would have been numerous additional murders had the officers not acted as quickly as they did.

Prior to deciding on the death penalty, Curry spoke with the families of each of the victims, who all agreed with his decision to pursue a death sentence against Cruz. Boyd’s son, Billy Boyd, Jr., had already called for the death sentence for Cruz prior to the meeting.

Police stated that the crimes could have been prevented had a number of people not enabled Cruz. His family, friends, and even his girlfriend reportedly “looked the other way” when Cruz began talking about killing and robbing sprees. According to his girlfriend, Angela Baker,

“They’re making him out to be some kind of violent crazy person and he’s not. He has a three-month-old daughter and yet he had issues but he wasn’t that violent like. He’s not evil like they’re making him out to be. He’s fun but not violent.”

One friend admitted to helping Cruz clean the blood off of money that he took from one of his victims. Baker’s mother allegedly told Cruz in a text message that he needed to hide out, delete his Facebook account, and change his appearance. She also reportedly told him she could help him disappear.

Billy Boyd's son calling for death penalty after Johnathan Cruz arrested for 3 murders. Impact on victim's fam at 4 pic.twitter.com/PlAR3n6t97

— Mike Pelton (@MikePeltonAZ) June 2, 2016

Cruz appeared in a Marion County Court room last month to hear his charges. A video of the event depicted Cruz in an orange jail jumpsuit, with his legs shackled and his hands cuffed behind his back. He seemed unfazed as Judge Shelia Carlisle read the charges against him and informed him he may face the death penalty.

Johnathan Cruz faces 17 felony charges, which include counts of murder and robbery. He’s accused of 5 percent of all murders that took place in Indianapolis so far this year.

[Image via Marion County Prosecutor’s Office]