Man was 'dragging' girlfriend home 'by her ankles' when 2 men tried to help, so he shot all 3: Police – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Muncie, Indiana – A quiet stretch of South Walnut Street became the scene of a deadly confrontation on May 10 when a 21-year-old man allegedly dragged his girlfriend along the sidewalk by her ankles as she screamed for help. Two men who stopped to intervene were shot, and the woman later died from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident has left the community grappling with the sudden loss and the bravery of bystanders who tried to step in.
A Domestic Dispute Turns Public and Violent
According to court documents, the trouble began two days earlier when 23-year-old Cheyenne Angelina Raines tried to leave the home she shared with Rylynn Joshua Davis. Prosecutors say Davis threw her to the floor, causing her to hit her head, and refused to let her go. On the afternoon of the shooting, Raines again announced she was leaving and walked away down the street.
Davis followed her, struck her in the head, and then grabbed her by the feet to drag her backward toward their residence. Surveillance footage captured the struggle clearly, showing Raines screaming as she was pulled along the pavement. Davis later told officers he had picked up a handgun that Raines dropped during the confrontation.
Bystanders Step In and Face Immediate Fire
Two men driving a Dodge pickup truck witnessed the scene and pulled over to confront Davis. One of them, Michael Hennessey, later described the moment to local reporters. “At first, I thought it was just two kids messing around,” he said. “Then, I looked closer and realized it was a guy dragging a girl down the road by her ankles.”
Witnesses told investigators that Davis responded without hesitation, firing on the truck and the two men. Hennessey recalled diving for cover as shots rang out. “I jumped out my door, ducked behind the truck, and I saw the other man and her both laying on the ground,” he said. “Almost as soon as I switched directions, it felt like I got hit with a baseball bat.” The second man suffered a head wound described in records as incompatible with life and was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition.
Police Response and Additional Charges
Officers from the Muncie Police Department arrived around 5:30 p.m. after reports of multiple people being shot in the 2700 block of South Walnut Street. They found Raines and the two injured men outside a home. Raines was pronounced dead at a local hospital after suffering gunshot wounds to her face, chest, abdomen, and back.
Davis was quickly detained with help from a bystander. He claimed he was only protecting himself and had not meant to harm Raines. Prosecutors later added a firearm sentencing enhancement to the charges, which include murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, kidnapping, and criminal confinement. The murder count alone carries a possible 65-year sentence.
After the shooting, officers found three young children, ages 3, 2, and 3 months, locked inside a bedroom at a nearby home. The room was described as deplorable, with the toddlers covered in dirt and feces and no other adults present. Davis now faces an additional charge of neglect of a dependent.
Next Steps in the Case
Davis remains held without bond at the Delaware County Jail. His initial hearing is scheduled for May 27. The case continues to draw attention because of the public nature of the attack and the intervention by ordinary citizens who tried to stop it.
Investigators are still piecing together the full sequence from witness statements and video evidence. The outcome has prompted renewed discussion in Muncie about domestic violence and the risks faced by those who choose to get involved.
