A soldier at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, has been charged with murder in connection to the 2022 killing of a man in Indiana.
The suspect, 34-year-old Private First Class Kenron Laing, was arrested and charged with the murder of 39-year-old Gildardo Garcia Salina at his home in Owen County, Indiana, on November 2, 2023.
Police allege that Laing killed Salina after he came into possession of Laing’s bag, which had been left at a motel in Fishers, Indiana. According to court records, obtained by FOX59, Salina was part of a grounds crew performing maintenance at the motel where Laing was staying.
A coworker on the crew reportedly discovered the bag abandoned in some bushes, and it eventually ended up with Salina.
An affidavit for probable cause reveals that Salina told his family he found drugs, a scale, smoking devices, and an iPhone inside the bag. Concerned about the potential danger, Salina reportedly informed his family that he had destroyed the drugs by stomping on them.
The bag eventually ended up at Salina’s home, where he told his family he planned to return it, along with the iPhone inside, to the motel where he had been working. However, Salina never had the opportunity to follow through on his intentions.
During their investigation, police interviewed employees of the motel where Laing had been staying. Staff members reported that Laing had mentioned losing an iPhone on the property. To assist him, the staff provided him with a key to re-enter his former room.
Later, Laing asked about the landscaping company that serviced the motel, claiming his lost phone appeared to be pinging at the company’s office.
Security footage from the day of the shooting showed a man, identified as Laing, searching the area where a landscaping truck had previously been parked. According to police, Laing was seen repeatedly looking down at his phone, appearing to track something. After his search, Laing left the area in a black Mitsubishi Galant.
On the night of the shooting, a family member of Salina’s reported seeing a car idling outside their Cloverdale residence with its lights on. She described the vehicle as possibly “staking out the residence.” A passerby also noted seeing a similar car in the area, describing it as a “boxier” version of a Toyota Camry.
Shortly after, a man attempted to enter Salina’s home. Salina, armed with a shotgun, confronted the man, holding the weapon horizontally across his chest to prevent entry. Court records indicate that Salina eventually moved the man outside, where a physical altercation ensued. During the fight, gunshots were fired.
A family member of Salina’s attempted to return fire as the assailant fled the scene but soon discovered Salina on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, Salina succumbed to his injuries.
Police discovered two iPhones at the crime scene. One was the phone Salina had found inside the bag at the motel, while the other was located on the grass near the shooting site.
Records confirmed that both phones belonged to Kenron Laing, but it wasn’t until his sister, Kennisha, was arrested for a shooting that the biggest breakthrough occurred in the case.
Police knew she was with Laing during the alleged murder based on her phone’s data so when she was arrested for murder in Illinois, a year later, police in Indiana were notified of her arrest.
Kennisha later told police she used a revolver handgun that belonged to her brother during the shooting.
According to court records, firearms analysts confirmed the bullets recovered from both murders were from the same gun.
Laing was then detained by Army CID agents at Fort Liberty until Indiana State Police took him into custody.
The 82nd Airborne said Laing joined the Army in August 2023 as a 92F petroleum supply specialist. He’s currently assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team with the 82nd and faces one count of murder.
The maximum penalty for murder in Indiana can range from the death penalty to life in prison without parole.
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