Brandon Riggs

Brandon Riggs, a man remembered for his constant smile and as the life of the party, was building a life for his family in Indianapolis when his future was tragically cut short. Born on December 24, 1982, in Charleston, Missouri, Brandon was known to friends and family as a spirited and devoted father who served as the "glue" that held his loved ones together. In 2008, seeking a fresh start after the devastating loss of a son, he moved to Indianapolis with his fiancée and their children. There, he worked at a local Applebee's and pursued a passion for flipping houses. Brandon, 36, was a Black man who loved fishing and was deeply cherished for his shining light and silly, joyful personality. He was, above all, a full-time father who adored his children.

The afternoon of Tuesday, November 12, 2019, brought a violent end to Brandon’s life. Just before 4:00 p.m., officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called to a residence in the 2400 block of North Rural Street on the city’s east side for a report of two people down. Inside the home, first responders made a grim discovery. Brandon and a woman, 25-year-old Natasha Jones, were found suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Medical personnel pronounced both victims dead at the scene. The following day, the Marion County Coroner’s Office confirmed their identities and determined that both had died from their injuries, officially ruling their deaths a double homicide.

Homicide detectives immediately launched an investigation into the killings, canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and any information that could lead to a suspect. The initial police response did not yield any public information about a potential motive or person of interest. Law enforcement officials described the incident as isolated, but the lack of immediate leads left a community shaken and two families grappling with sudden, inexplicable loss. The shock and grief were immense for those who knew Brandon as a man who could light up any room he entered.

In the days and years that followed the shooting, the investigation continued, but progress appeared to be slow. No arrests were ever publicly announced, and no suspects were named in connection with the deaths of Brandon Riggs and Natasha Jones. The case grew cold, joining the list of unsolved homicides in the city. For Brandon’s family, the absence of answers compounded their grief. They were left to mourn a man whose smile, they said, would "forever light the City up," without the closure of knowing who was responsible for taking him from them.

Friends and family shared memories of Brandon online, recalling him as a joy to know and a man who "kept it real." They lit virtual candles in his memory and shared photos of his smiling face, determined that he would not be forgotten. His loved ones described him as a shining light and expressed their enduring love for the man they called "B Riggs."

As of late 2019, the case remained open and unsolved. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has continued to ask for the public’s help in bringing justice to the families of Brandon Riggs and Natasha Jones. Anyone with information about the double homicide is urged to contact the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or to provide an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477. The families await the day when they will finally have answers about why their beloved Brandon was taken from them.