In the autumn of 2022, the life of 30-year-old Domenik Jamaull 'D-Mo' Briggs was cut short in his South Bend, Indiana home. On the afternoon of October 6, police were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of West Indiana Avenue following reports of a shooting. Inside, they discovered Briggs with a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
An autopsy later confirmed that he had been shot in the back of the head.
The initial investigation into the death of the male victim was met with significant challenges as witnesses were uncooperative. It was determined that Briggs had been at his home with a number of other people at the time of the shooting. Despite having strong leads, detectives struggled to get a clear account of the events that transpired due to the reluctance of those present to come forward with information. This lack of cooperation stalled the case for over a year, leaving the family of Briggs without answers and his killer at large.
A breakthrough in the case finally came in early 2024. New information surfaced, leading investigators to identify 18-year-old Marquis Duncan as the primary suspect. In January 2024, Duncan was formally charged with the murder of Domenik Briggs, and he was arrested the following month. According to court documents, Briggs was involved in an argument with another man at the gathering when Duncan allegedly shot him. It was suggested that the dispute was connected to a firearm that the man Briggs was arguing with had reportedly agreed to trade with Duncan weeks prior.
The legal proceedings against Marquis Duncan took an unexpected turn, however. The case against him was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that charges could be refiled in the future. This decision was made because prosecutors were unable to locate a key witness needed for the trial. After a month of searching for the witness, the prosecution, in consultation with Briggs's family, decided to dismiss the case until that individual could be found. While the initial suspect is no longer in custody, the investigation into Domenik Briggs's death remains open.
