In the early hours of Sunday, April 12, 2026, a violent encounter in a home on the west side of Indianapolis brought a tragic end to the life of 33-year-old Rachael Lynn Rakes. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of a person shot in the 800 block of Westbrook Avenue, near West Washington Street and Holt Road, at approximately 12:30 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered a man on the front porch who had been shot multiple times. Inside the residence, they found Rakes, also suffering from gunshot wounds.
Both victims were rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Rachael Lynn Rakes succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. Her father, who was also shot during the incident, was left in critical condition. Friends of Rakes, a mother of three, described her as a person who was known and loved by everyone in her community. They immediately suspected that the shooting was an act of domestic violence, allegedly perpetrated by a man with whom Rakes had been in a relationship.
The investigation quickly focused on a suspect, identified as 39-year-old Javon Cushenberry. Authorities revealed that the attack was believed to be targeted. A reward was offered for information leading to his apprehension by the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Task Force and Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana. A breakthrough in the case came on the evening of Thursday, April 16, when a tip from the community led to Cushenberry's arrest. He was taken into custody outside a business in the 6500 block of West Washington Street, and a gun was found in his waistband at the time of his arrest.
Further investigation into Cushenberry's background revealed a significant and violent criminal history. Court records indicated prior arrests for domestic violence and a conviction for attempted murder two decades prior, for which he had served eight years in prison. His history also included methamphetamine charges. The apprehension of Cushenberry brought a sense of relief to the community, as the man accused of ending Rachael Lynn Rakes's life and critically injuring her father was now in custody.
