Kuran Demetrius Kinley, 26, received a 60-year sentence on Friday for the fatal shooting of Trayveon Triplett at a Valparaiso apartment on June 2, 2025. Porter Superior Court 2 Judge Jeffrey Clymer issued the sentence for a murder with enhancement charge, noting that it is "in reality, it is almost, if not, a life sentence."
The sentencing followed a new plea agreement entered on Friday by Kinley’s defense attorney, Mitch Peters, and Deputy Prosecutor Kire Pavlovski. In May, Kinley, a Valparaiso resident, had initially pleaded guilty to charges of murder with an enhancement, criminal recklessness, and carrying a handgun. Under the terms of the new agreement, Kinley pleaded guilty solely to the murder with an enhancement charge, leading to the dismissal of the criminal recklessness and handgun felony charges.
Judge Clymer explained that the 60-year term represents the maximum sentence permissible: 55 years for the murder charge itself, augmented by an additional five-year enhancement. This enhancement was applied because a firearm was used in the commission of the crime, and Kinley had a prior felony conviction. Online court records indicate Kinley pleaded guilty to a Level 6 felony battery charge in Lake County in 2020. Two felony robbery charges were dismissed as part of that previous plea agreement.
During the court proceedings, Kinley affirmed his guilt when read statements concerning the fatal shooting of Triplett at a Chicago Street apartment. A probable cause statement related to the case outlined that Kinley, who resided in the same apartment complex, was upset by Triplett’s presence at the Chicago Street residence while Kinley's child, by his ex-girlfriend, was also present. Kinley subsequently shot Triplett multiple times.
Triplett’s family members were not present at the sentencing hearing. However, Judge Clymer stated that the pre-sentencing report he reviewed contained numerous statements from Triplett’s family, which he characterized as "heartbreaking."
Kinley addressed the court, reading a handwritten apology from a yellow sheet of paper. He expressed regret to "all of his family, friends and loved ones." Kinley stated that the events of June 2, 2025, at the Chicago Street apartment should never have occurred, noting that two lives were lost that day: Triplett's and his own. He concluded his statement saying, "No words can describe. That being said, I am sorry."
Defense attorney Peters conveyed that Kinley was deeply affected by a message from Triplett’s mother, who communicated her forgiveness. Peters also shared that Triplett's mother expressed hope that Kinley would "find God" during his incarceration.