A memorial gathering in Indianapolis’ Butler-Tarkington neighborhood turned deadly on September 19, 2015. Ten-year-old Deshawn Swanson, known as Little Man, was outside his grandmother’s home on Graceland Avenue when a newer silver or gray vehicle with tinted windows drove by and occupants in both front and rear seats opened fire on the house and people gathered there. Four people were hit; Deshawn was critically injured, taken to IU Health Riley Hospital for Children, and later died.

Investigators say they believe the shooting was a targeted attack but that Deshawn was not the intended victim. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has continued the investigation; the FBI joined the case in 2020 under Operation Legend. A reward of up to $25,000 has been posted for information leading to an arrest and conviction, but no arrests have been announced and the shooters’ identities remain unknown. Fear of retaliation has been cited as a barrier to witnesses coming forward.

Did anyone in the Butler-Tarkington area see that silver or gray vehicle or know who might have been in it that evening?