3rd arrest made in December 'revenge' murder in southwest Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Metro Police arrested a third person Friday in a "revenge" murder in December.

A 17-year-old male is charged with murder, robbery and tampering with physical evidence in the Dec. 20 shooting of 20-year-old Milton Ritchie in southwest Louisville.

The suspect's name won't be released because he is underage. His arrest marks the third in Ritchie's murder.

Last month, Daontez Hodges, 19, was arrested and charged with murder, robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and unlawful transaction with a minor.

The shooting happened on the afternoon of Dec. 20 in the 3000 block of Fordhaven Road, off St. Anthony Church Road, near Pleasure Ridge Park. That's where LMPD officers found Ritchie outside a vehicle in a ditch with gunshot wounds. Investigators determined Ritchie had been shot in the neck and lower back.

Court documents indicate Ritchie had been invited to meet a 15-year-old girl. When Ritchie arrived at the scene he was greeted by the girl, Hodges and several other people. That's when police said Hodges fired two shots from a rifle at Ritchie, killing him.

Investigators determined that the 15-year-old girl was part of a "revenge" plot that included taking Ritchie's car after he was shot, and that she contacted Hodges to let him know Ritchie had arrived. Court records indicate 911 callers and witnesses told police "a large crowd was present in the area" when Ritchie was shot.

The girl was arrested a few days after the killing. She is charged with complicity to murder and robbery.

Hodges remains jailed at Louisville Metro Corrections on a $1 million cash bond.

20-year-old man found shot to death in southwest Louisville, police say

15-year-old girl charged in fatal shooting in southwest Louisville, police say