Justin Gerhard Stewart, 31, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of January 23, 2023, in the 500 block of South 29th Street in South Bend’s River Park neighborhood. He was found around 4 a.m. with gunshot wounds, taken to a hospital, and later died. Stewart, known as Stewie to family and friends, was a father of three and worked as a welder at Barletta Pontoon Boats; those who knew him remember his vibrant personality and protective nature.

The South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit says the killing arose from an alleged revenge plot linked to a September 2022 shooting in which one of the suspects, Christopher Brown, was wounded and believed Stewart was involved. Investigators identified three suspects: Christopher Brown, 34; London Davis, 30; and 34-year-old Samantha Zsedeny, who was later located in Florida. Brown and Davis were arrested and charged; Brown faced murder and conspiracy charges while Davis was charged with conspiracy. Police allege Brown recruited others to buy firearms and to locate Stewart, and that text messages show Brown asked a woman to lure Stewart out on the night of the shooting.

If anyone in River Park that night or anyone who knew Stewart’s routines has information, please contact the South Bend Police Violent Crimes Unit.