In the early morning hours of November 3, 2023, the life of a young South Bend, Indiana mother was tragically cut short. Khalyiah Bell, a 25-year-old female, was found with fatal gunshot wounds in her apartment at the Beacon Heights complex on Curtiss Drive. Police responded to a call about a possible shooting just after 8:30 a.m. and discovered her deceased at the scene.
An autopsy later confirmed that she died from gunshot wounds.
The investigation into her death moved swiftly, and within a day, authorities had a suspect in custody. Juwan Dockery, 22 years old at the time, was arrested and subsequently charged with murder in connection with Bell's death. According to court documents and witness statements, Dockery had been staying with Bell for a few days leading up to the incident. The relationship between them was described as a dating relationship that Bell was attempting to end.
Evidence suggests that a heated argument between Bell and Dockery preceded the fatal shooting. In a chilling turn of events, Bell had reportedly started a live audio recording of the confrontation. In the recording, a male voice identified as Juwan is heard arguing with Bell and demanding to know the whereabouts of a gun. The audio captures the sound of a gunshot, followed by the man frantically screaming Bell's name. After the gunshot, Bell's voice is no longer heard on the recording.
Following his arrest, Juwan Dockery was held at the St. Joseph County Jail. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office formally charged him with murder for his role in Khalyiah Bell's death, bringing the case into the judicial system.
