Indiana poker player found shot to death

Apr 03, 2026

Summary: James Lushin, 47, of Westfield, Indiana, was discovered shot to death from multiple gunshot wounds in his home on the evening of March 12, 2026. Ronald Dewayne Brown Jr., 50, of Indianapolis, his business associate, was arrested two weeks later and charged with murder after allegedly killing the victim to eliminate a large debt for marijuana that had been fronted in their joint dealing business, reports say.

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WESTFIELD, Ind. — James Matthew Lushin, a 47-year-old Westfield resident and accomplished poker player with more than $500,000 in career tournament earnings, was discovered dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside his home on the 3900 block of Westfield Road on the evening of March 12, 2026.

A woman who had gone to check on Lushin after he failed to appear for a scheduled appointment found his body through the back door and alerted authorities. Officers arrived to find Lushin with obvious trauma from gunfire and several shell casings nearby. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Westfield Fire Department personnel, with his body described as cold to the touch when first responders arrived.

Police initially treated the death as suspicious before classifying it as a homicide. Investigators determined that Lushin, who also worked as a real estate investor and supplemented his income through marijuana dealing, had been killed by a business associate to whom he had fronted large quantities of the drug.

On March 27, authorities arrested Ronald Dewayne Brown Jr., 50, of Indianapolis. Brown was formally charged with murder the following week and remains held without bond in the Hamilton County Jail. Court records indicate Brown owed Lushin thousands of dollars for marijuana that had been provided on credit as part of their joint dealing operation. Detectives concluded the killing was intended to eliminate the debt.

Evidence linking Brown to the scene included a rental SUV traced through airport records and automated license-plate readers. Surveillance video from a doorbell camera captured the vehicle parked in Lushin’s driveway for approximately 20 minutes on the morning of March 12. Phone records, encrypted messaging app activity, and a series of Cash App transfers from Brown to Lushin further supported the connection. Authorities also recovered marijuana, cash, scales, and packaging materials from both Lushin’s residence and a subsequent search of Brown’s property.

Lushin had recently placed fourth in a World Series of Poker Circuit event in Amsterdam, adding to his substantial live-tournament resume that included cashes across the United States and Europe. He was described in poker community circles as a regular participant in local card-room games.

The case remains pending in Hamilton County court.

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