On February 6, 2024, 18-year-old female Lashelle Rene Hewlett was fatally shot during an altercation at an apartment complex on the east side of Indianapolis, Indiana. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Hawthorne Apartments near the intersection of 32nd Street and Emerson Avenue. Reports indicate that an argument began between Hewlett and another individual, which escalated into a physical confrontation.
During the dispute, a vehicle described as a black Dodge Charger pulled up to the scene. A woman who was not involved in the initial altercation exited the vehicle, brandished a firearm, and fired multiple shots before fleeing the area in the car.
The gunfire struck three individuals, including Hewlett, her mother, and her boyfriend. Hewlett’s mother, Michelle Diggs, had attempted to intervene and break up the fight when she was wounded in the hand and grazed on the chest. Hewlett’s boyfriend, who reportedly jumped in front of the gunfire to shield her, was struck in the groin. Despite the efforts of those around her, Lashelle Hewlett suffered a gunshot wound to the heart. Her mother recalled that in her final moments, Lashelle repeatedly apologized to her before losing consciousness. She was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries, while the other two victims survived.
As of a year after the shooting, no suspects have been publicly identified or taken into custody in connection with the homicide. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has not released a specific description of the shooter beyond the details of the vehicle and the gender of the suspect. The case remains an active investigation, with detectives urging anyone with information to come forward. The deadly event was part of a string of violence at the complex, marking one of several homicides in the area within a six-month period, all of which remained unsolved for an extended time. Family members continue to hold vigils and demand justice, seeking closure for the loss of the teenager who was a senior in high school at the time of her death.
