In the early hours of Tuesday, June 9, 2026, a sense of normalcy was shattered in the parking lot of an east Indianapolis laundromat, leaving a family and community in mourning. Robert Deon English Jr., a 43-year-old man known affectionately as "Deon" to his loved ones, was fatally shot during what police have described as an attempted robbery. The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. in the 2200 block of North Mitthoefer Road.
English was with his cousin, Derrick Hardaway, in their car, using the free Wi-Fi to work on a podcast, a regular activity for them in a spot just around the corner from English's apartment.
Their creative session was violently interrupted when two individuals wearing masks approached the vehicle. According to Hardaway, the pair aggressively asked for a lighter, but their intentions were far more sinister. It quickly became clear that this was a robbery attempt. An altercation ensued, and in the chaos, Robert English Jr. was shot. Hardaway recounted that one of the assailants held a gun to his head, rendering him helpless in the moment. Emergency services were called, and English was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The suspects, who Hardaway believed to be teenagers, fled the scene and have not yet been identified.
In the wake of this senseless act of violence, family and friends gathered for a balloon release to honor the memory of a man they described as full of life and someone who could always make them laugh. His aunt, Peggy Walton, and cousin, Timica Lining, spoke of the deep love his family and friends had for him and the devastating shock of his sudden death. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is actively investigating the homicide and has urged anyone with information to come forward. Detectives are seeking assistance from the public to identify the individuals responsible for the death of Robert Deon English Jr. As of now, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly named in the ongoing investigation into a night that began with creativity and ended in a heartbreaking tragedy.
