Police reveal new details in Westfield murder NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — Prosecutors on Monday said the man suspected of killing a Westfield poker player had been paying him for more than a year for marijuana. Westfield Police Chief Shawn Keen said someone called police to the home of James Matthew Lushin on the evening of March 12 after they went to check on him when he didn’t show up for an appointment. They found Lushin dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said it was the first homicide in Westfield in about seven or eight years. Court documents show during their investigation, detectives found several pouches in the home containing marijuana as well as multiple cell phones. They said friends and family told them Lushin dealt marijuana. Lushin was also a known gambler, including trips to Amsterdam and Spain as well as local cash games. During a later, follow-up search of Lushin’s property, detectives found nearly $16,000 in cash in the master bedroom and nearly 11 pounds of marijuana in a safe in a nearby structure. Investigators found Lushin had ties to Ronald Dewayne Brown, Jr. According to a probable cause affidavit released by the Hamilton County prosecutor, sources told detectives Lushin had loaned Brown somewhere between $20,000 and $70,000 worth of marijuana and that Brown owed Lushin money. Investigators said Brown paid Lushin a total of $17,900 in a series of installments through CashApp between January of 2025 and March of this year, with the last payment going through on March 5. Police said investigators served search warrants at a total of three Indianapolis residences associated with Brown on March 27, taking him into custody at a residence in the 3300 block of N. Butler Ave. They said they found several packages of marijuana, multiple cell phones and laptops, and a handgun loaded with ammunition that matched that found at the crime scene. Brown now faces a murder charge with a firearm enhancement in connection with Lushin’s death. He had his first court appearance Monday afternoon. Hamilton County Prosecutor Josh Kocher said his office has several theories for a motive but would not offer any details, saying they were circumstantial. He said they do not have any additional suspects in the case. Although Brown has been charged, he said he still wants people to come forward if they have any new information. “Anytime we can get more evidence, that’s something that’s good. Both something that can prove guilt of the accused but also anything that can prove the innocence of the accused. We want to make sure that we get it right,” he said. ...read more read less