On a late summer evening in Indianapolis, 24-year-old Stacey O. Branch Jr., a male, tragically lost his life. The incident occurred on Friday, September 2, 2022, just before 10:00 p.m. in the 5900 block of Fieldcrest Lane. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers from the Southwest District were dispatched to the scene following a report of a person shot. Upon arrival, they discovered Branch with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical services promptly transported him to Eskenazi hospital in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Stacey Branch Jr. succumbed to his injuries later that evening and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Homicide detectives were called to the scene to commence their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency also responded to collect potential forensic evidence.
The investigation led detectives to identify 21-year-old Dionni King as the suspect. It is believed that a verbal altercation between King and Branch escalated, leading to the fatal shooting. On September 29, 2022, IMPD Homicide detectives located and arrested Dionni King for his alleged role in the death of Stacey Branch Jr. Following his arrest, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office was tasked with reviewing the case to determine the final charging decision.
