Teen may be tried as adult for slaying

Alleged cohort testifies in case of ‘drug deal gone bad’

5/20/2017
BY ALLISON REAMER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • n7foster-jpg-5

    Parents of Andrew Foster-Martin, Kevin Martin and April Foster, appear with their son for a probable cause hearing in the death of Collin Doyle and wounding of Armond Batey.

    THE BLADE/LORI KING
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  • For two Maumee teenagers, what began as a potential drug deal in February turned into a robbery attempt followed by a murder, court testimony indicates.

    Doyle
    Doyle

    Tyreese Davis, 17, testified Friday in Lucas County Juvenile Court that Andrew Foster-Martin, 17, fired two shots into a vehicle Feb. 22 near Hillcrest and Hazelhurst avenues, striking Collin Doyle, 17, and Armond Batey, 16, in the back.

    Olender
    Olender

    The Doyle youth, who was hit by a gunshot to the torso, later died at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, while the Batey youth remains paralyzed, officials said.

    Fisher
    Fisher

    On Friday, during a probable-cause hearing, the Davis youth said although he planned on selling an ounce of marijuana to young Batey on Feb. 22, the Foster-Martin youth had a gun and planned to rob the teens.

    As the vehicle that the two victims were in quickly drove off, he said the Foster-Martin youth fired two shots. He is charged with murder and aggravated robbery.

    The Davis youth said the two of them then drove back to his home, and he testified the alleged gunman then warned him not to say anything about the incident, adding that threats were also made against his family.

    The Davis youth, who is charged in the case with complicity to murder and aggravated robbery, said he later learned what happened to the two other teens.

    The Doyle youth’s mother, Jennifer King-Doyle, held onto a picture of her son Friday as the alleged gunman entered the courtroom for a probable cause hearing, which determines if there is enough evidence for the charges against him. Several family members for both sides were in the courtroom on Friday, but were unavailable for comment.

    They sat and listened as the Davis youth described events of what police are calling a “drug deal gone bad.”

    Judge Denise Navarre Cubbon ruled that there is probable cause in the case, and ordered the Foster-Martin youth to undergo an evaluation at the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center.

    “It will be going through a laundry list of pros and cons to having him tried as an adult,” said Lori Olender, Lucas County juvenile prosecutor.

    The defense did not call or question any witnesses.

    The judge will make a decision on June 22 as to whether he will be tried as an adult.

    The Foster-Martin youth hugged his parents, telling him he loved them, before being escorted in handcuffs to the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center. The Davis youth is also being held there.

    Earlier this week, a Toledo man connected to the case  was  found competent to stand trial by Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Ian English.

    Travis Durden, 32, of the 1500 block of Berdan Avenue is charged with complicity to murder, complicity to aggravated robbery, and complicity to felonious assault in the shooting death of the Doyle youth  and wounding of the Batey youth.

    Judge English found Mr. Durden competent Thursday based on evaluations done by the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center and Central Behavioral Healthcare. The judge scheduled a motion hearing and trial for June 8.

    Contact Allison Reamer at: areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506, or on Twitter @AllisonRBlade.