Darius Timberlake

Darius Timberlake was a 26-year-old Southwest Asian man who, according to a memorial, lived life to the fullest, loved his family deeply, and always made people smile. His life was tragically cut short in the early morning hours of April 23, 2025, in a quiet neighborhood in Lawrence, a part of Indianapolis.

Around 3:30 a.m., officers from the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 4500 block of Vernon Avenue following a report of a shooting. Inside the home, they discovered Timberlake suffering from injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. Medics arrived at the scene, but Timberlake was pronounced dead. The Marion County Coroner’s Office later officially ruled his death a homicide.

Police detained a person of interest for questioning at the scene, who was later identified as 19-year-old Jeremy Jett. As the investigation progressed, details emerged that the shooting was a crime of passion. According to prosecutors, the incident was fueled by jealousy after Jett arrived at his girlfriend's home to find her in bed with Timberlake.

Court documents revealed a tense confrontation between the two men. Jett's girlfriend told police that he was "jealous" and that the shooting had not been an accident. It was alleged that a struggle over a gun ensued before Jett fired the fatal shots. Investigators also learned that Jett waited over half an hour before calling 911, initially claiming the shooting was accidental.

Jeremy Jett was arrested and formally charged with the murder of Darius Timberlake and one count of residential entry. A search of Jett's social media reportedly uncovered a message he sent to a friend in which he allegedly planned to claim self-defense. The case concluded when Jeremy Jett pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony.