In a case that began with a family's worried report of a missing person, the story of Harpreet Singh, a 28-year-old male of Southwest Asian descent, came to a tragic end in Indianapolis. Singh, a resident of nearby Avon, was last seen on April 23, 2022, after he left for a trip to the grocery store and never returned. His family's concern grew with each passing day, launching a search that would conclude in heartbreak over a week later.
On May 2, 2022, the investigation took a grim turn
on the far west side of Indianapolis. A tow truck driver, preparing to remove a black Toyota Highlander that had been left for days in the 6400 block of Jaguar Place, noticed a strange smell coming from the vehicle. A call to the police brought officers to the scene, where they made the devastating discovery of a body in the backseat. The deceased was soon identified as Harpreet Singh. Investigators noted that he had sustained traumatic injuries, which were later confirmed to be from gunshot wounds.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's homicide detectives, with assistance from the IMPD Violent Crimes Unit, quickly began to piece together the events that led to Singh's death. Witnesses reported seeing a tall, thin man leaving Singh's vehicle before getting into another car that quickly drove away. This crucial piece of information, combined with other evidence gathered during the investigation, led police to a suspect.
A few days later, authorities arrested 21-year-old Jayvawn Birdsong on the northwest side of the city. He was taken into custody facing a preliminary charge of reckless homicide in connection with Singh's murder. Birdsong also faced charges of carrying a handgun without a license and prostitution. While an arrest was made, the motive and the specific circumstances surrounding the killing were not immediately released by law enforcement as the investigation continued.
