Britney Long

Britney Long was a 27-year-old Black woman from Indianapolis whose happiness, her family said, came from helping others. A loving mother of four young children, she was described as the “Center” of her family, someone who would give until she had nothing left. Her smile was said to be as bright as the sun, and if she couldn't help someone herself, she would connect them with community assistance programs.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 6, 2024, police responded to a 911 call at a home on North Euclid Avenue. Inside, they found Britney Long in her bed with a gunshot wound to the head. Her four children, all under the age of seven, were asleep in an adjacent room and were physically unharmed. First responders rushed Britney to a local hospital, where she was listed in critical condition.

For four days, Britney fought for her life. Her family ultimately made the heartbreaking decision to remove her from life support, and she passed away on January 10, 2024. Through organ donation, she was able to save eight other lives. The 911 call had been made by Britney’s fiancé, 32-year-old Jomal Tyler. He told dispatchers “the gun just went off” and claimed the shooting was an accident. He later told detectives that he heard a noise outside, grabbed his firearm in the bedroom, and it discharged, striking Britney.

Investigators grew suspicious of Tyler’s story. They found a Canik 9mm handgun at the foot of the mattress and discovered blood inside his SUV, which was running in the driveway, leading them to believe he may have been preparing to flee. The investigation also uncovered a history of domestic violence. Britney's family told police the relationship was toxic, and her mother, Barbara Abdulla, recalled that Tyler had threatened on multiple occasions to kill Britney if she ever tried to leave him. The Department of Child Services also had an open domestic violence case against Tyler at the residence.

Indianapolis police arrested Jomal Tyler on the evening of January 7, 2024. He was formally charged with criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, a charge that drew criticism from Britney's family for its perceived leniency. After Britney’s death, the Marion County Coroner's Office officially ruled her death a homicide, and the investigation continued.

The case proceeded to trial, and on September 25, 2024, a jury convicted Jomal Tyler of reckless homicide. On October 23, 2024, he was sentenced to just under 17 and a half years in prison.