On a summer evening in Beech Grove, Indiana, a gathering of remembrance turned into a scene of violence, leaving a young man dead and a community in shock. Twenty-year-old Brandon Cortez-Newton, a Hispanic male, was fatally shot on July 17, 2022, at Don Challis Park. The park was filled with people attending a vigil when the sound of dozens of gunshots shattered the peace.
When Beech Grove Police arrived at the park on South 9th Avenue around 9:30 p.m., they found Brandon Cortez-Newton
deceased at the scene. Three other individuals were also wounded in the attack, including Brandon's 17-year-old sister. The injured were transported to local hospitals and were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities, including Beech Grove's mayor, described the shooting as a 'targeted and isolated' event.
Investigators believe the shooting may have stemmed from an argument between two women that escalated. Police began searching for suspects who fled the scene in a newer-model white Toyota Camry, which may have had a window shot out. It was reported that two or three men were believed to be in the vehicle. In the days following the shooting, police released photos of the car to the public in an appeal for information.
Despite the active investigation and the circulation of the suspect vehicle's description, no arrests have been publicly announced in connection with the murder of Brandon Cortez-Newton. The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy for his family, which had already been grieving the recent loss of another child. Brandon was also an expectant father at the time of his death. The Beech Grove Police Department continues to encourage anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward as the search for justice for Brandon Cortez-Newton and the other victims continues.
