Passengers in fatal crash on McKinley charged in unrelated robbery

Makayla Roundtree, 19

Sedgwick Rashawn Jackson, 19

Janelle Samari Fritz, 19


Charges have been filed against three passengers who were in a stolen Jeep that crashed Friday night, killing a driver traveling on Fir Road. Investigators have released the name of the man who was killed, along with the names of the passengers who were charged in an unrelated robbery.

The driver who was struck on Fir Road has been identified as John Riedle of South Bend.

Riedle's passenger remains in the hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Jeep has not been located, but three of the four passengers were injured in the crash.

The three passengers, Sedgwick Rashawn Jackson, 19, Janelle Samari Fritz, 19, and Makayla Roundtree, 19, have since been charged in connection with an armed robbery that happened on January 21.

On January 21, Jackson used a Tinder profile to set up a meeting between a victim and Roundtree.

Roundtree and Fritz said the plan was to lure the victim for sex, but once the victim gave the money, they would run away before any sexual activity took place, reports said.

At 8:30 p.m., the victim arrived in his truck and he and Roundtree went to a restaurant.

When they returned, Jackson approached the truck with a gun and ordered him from the driver's seat and Roundtree from the vehicle, reports said.

Fritz got into the driver's seat and Jackson got into the back seat, reports said.

Fritz searched the victim and took $60 from him, according to the probable cause affidavit.

After a few minutes, Fritz drove the truck out of the parking lot. While in the area of Lincolnway and Ardmore, the victim jumped out of the vehicle out of fear of being murdered, according to the probable cause affidavit.

  • Jackson has been charged with aiding, inducing or causing armed robbery and aiding, inducing or causing kidnapping.
  • Fritz has been charged with aiding, inducing or causing armed robbery and aiding, inducing or causing kidnapping.
  • Roundtree was charged with armed robbery.

The victim told police Jackson said they were taking him to an ATM to get his money out and threatened to take him out to the country and shoot him, according to reports.

A fourth passenger in the Jeep, Deshaun Shields, 24, was taken into custody on a warrant for unrelated charges and was released on his own recognizance.

If you have any information on the driver of the Jeep, please contact FACT at 574-235-5438.



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