In the autumn of 2022, a wave of violence in Gary, Indiana, claimed the life of 14-year-old Robert 'Bobby' Wright. On the morning of October 3, 2022, police were called to a residence in the 2900 block of West 11th Avenue, where they made a grim discovery. In the rear of the home, the bodies of two male teenagers were found unresponsive on the ground, both bearing wounds from gunshots. The victims were later identified as Robert Wright and his 16-year-old friend, Day'vion Jones.
The Lake County Coroner's Office officially ruled both deaths as homicides.
The double homicide was part of a troubling string of four murders that occurred in Gary in less than a 48-hour period. This spike in violence raised concerns within the community and prompted a response from law enforcement. The Gary Police Chief stated at the time that investigators believed the victims in these separate incidents were targeted and that the shootings were not random acts. Authorities also made it a point to clarify that they did not believe the killings were related to drugs or gang activity. Robert was an eighth-grade student at Bailey STEM Academy. His mother, Sarah Arnett, expressed her profound grief and made a public plea for justice for her son.
In the time since the tragic deaths of Robert Wright and Day'vion Jones, the investigation into their murders has remained active. Law enforcement officials from the Gary/Lake County Metro Homicide Unit have been handling the case and have appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough. Despite their ongoing efforts, no arrests have been announced in connection with the double homicide. The case remains unresolved, leaving a void in the lives of the teenagers' families and a community still searching for answers.
