On a Saturday evening in Indianapolis, Indiana, the lives of two young men from the local Chin community were tragically cut short by gun violence. James Thawng Tha Ceu, a 21-year-old male of Asian ethnicity, and his friend, 18-year-old Boi Nge, were fatally shot on March 19, 2022. The incident unfolded near the Arthur R. Baxter Branch YMCA, a place typically associated with community and recreation.
That night, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were
dispatched to the area of Shelby Street and Stop 11 Road shortly after 8:00 p.m. following reports of a person shot. Upon their arrival at the rear of the YMCA facility, they discovered both James Thawng Tha Ceu and Boi Nge suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response and efforts of medical personnel, both men succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The shooting sent shockwaves through the peaceful Chin community, to which both victims belonged. A third individual was also wounded in the incident but survived after being treated at a local hospital. The deaths of the two young men were reported as the first homicides involving Asian victims in Indianapolis in 2022.
In the aftermath of the double homicide, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation into the killings. However, details about a potential motive or the circumstances leading up to the shooting have not been publicly released. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of James Thawng Tha Ceu and Boi Nge, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to seek information from the public to bring those responsible to justice.
