In the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 5, 2025, a gathering of teenagers and adults at the Parkview Terrace Apartments in Mishawaka, Indiana, turned tragic. Seventeen-year-old Wesley Dancler, a male, was present at the gathering inside one of the apartments on East 12th Street when a firearm was discharged. Police were called to the scene just before 2:30 a.m. and found Dancler suffering from a single gunshot wound.
Emergency life-saving measures were initiated before he was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The initial investigation by the Mishawaka Police Department quickly identified a 15-year-old boy as the individual who was handling the gun at the time of the incident. Witnesses at the scene reported to police that the discharge of the firearm was accidental. Investigators believe that all individuals involved were known to one another, and they have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Following an interview conducted in the presence of a guardian, the 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody and detained at the Juvenile Justice Center of St. Joseph County. He is facing a preliminary charge of Reckless Homicide, which is a Level 5 Felony under Indiana law if committed by an adult. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office and Juvenile Probation are working with detectives to review the case for formal charging as the investigation remains active.
