A Deadly Rendezvous: Court documents reveal details about murder in Wilmington

Update: Police have named the fourth suspect in Hall's murder as 18-year-old Joshua Lee Williams. He's described as black, thin, has braided hair and may drive a red four-door sedan.

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WILMINGTON, Ohio (WKRC) - A woman in Wilmington found the key piece of evidence that led to the arrest of three murder suspects.

Police are still seeking a fourth suspect in Tuesday night's homicide. Out at the murder scene, the parking spaces are empty and inconspicuous, but 48 hours ago, a young man lay dying in this very spot.

"I came out and the boy was over there laying -- he wasn't moving -- I just assumed he had passed away,” said Ruby Barr, who lives 10 yards from where the shooting occurred.

When police arrived at the parking lot of the Northland Court Apartments, they found three young men: Kevin Noe, Jr., Christian Terry and Corey Ruffner. They were standing near their friend, 23-year-old Layne Hall from Blanchester. Police say he was dead from a gunshot wound to the chest.

"Lane would come in before he could even see over the counter,” Jeri Henry reminisced.

She has known the Hall family for years, she says.

“It's sad that four boys have lost their lives. Over what? It's senseless." Henry said, referring to Hall, who was dead and his three friends, who are being held for his murder.

She says she never expected this from such a tight-knit, loving family. But court records reveal more about that night. Police say the three men with Hall when he died said they were just riding along with Hall as they'd been together for most of the day. They say Hall wanted to meet a man in the parking lot, but they didn't know why or who they were meeting. They say the other man drove up, he and Hall met, they heard the gunshot and saw the man run away.

The case may have stalled if it weren't for a woman, who wishes to remain anonymous.

"I was walking my dog, my dog seen something and started to run over to it. I looked and it was a cell phone. So I walked away and called 911," she said.

She says she knew what she had found. It was Hall's cell phone with text messages that showed messages arranging a meeting at the apartments seven minutes before his death. Four minutes later was a text from Hall's phone to Christian Terry's phone, saying, "Come hit this dude."

Police say they believe this was a message to move in on the suspect for an armed robbery. One suspect had a firearm in the car. Police arrested all three and they are now charged with murder, held on $1-million bond each.

The woman who found the phone that cracked the case says she is just happy she was able to help.

"If it helped solve the case, and find justice for the family, then that's what was for the best."

"I feel awful,” added Barr. “[Layne Hall’s] mom came yesterday and she was crying over there where he'd passed away. I just felt bad for the whole family.”

Police are seeking a fourth suspect in this case, who they say is from Xenia. They have not confirmed whether it's the man Hall and his friends met Tuesday night, but that man's whereabouts are unknown.

The three who are in jail are charged with murder because police say their friend was killed during the attempted robbery. Police say this was an isolated incident, and while they are still seeking a fourth suspect, the public is not in danger.