In the early morning hours of December 20, 2021, D’Lon Edwards, a 34-year-old Black male from Indianapolis, Indiana, was found with gunshot wounds on the city's northwest side. The incident occurred in the 3900 block of Lawndale Avenue. Edwards, who was known to friends and family as 'Nephew,' was rushed to a local hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting led police to a nearby residence in the 3900 block of Diamond Lane, where they
believed the shooting had actually taken place. At this location, they made contact with a woman named Chaznee Mockabee. Although she was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation and was initially detained, Mockabee was later released. For over a year, the case saw little public movement, leaving the community and Edwards' family seeking answers.
A significant breakthrough in the investigation came in November 2022 when detectives received the results of a DNA comparison. Evidence from a handgun found at the scene was a near-perfect match to Chaznee Mockabee. This crucial piece of forensic evidence led the Marion County Prosecutor's Office to formally charge Mockabee with murder on June 23, 2023. Two days later, on June 25, 2023, authorities located and arrested her, utilizing license plate reader technology to find her vehicle.
Despite the initial charges and the DNA evidence that led to her arrest, the legal proceedings against Chaznee Mockabee took another turn. After more than two years since the death of D'Lon Edwards, the murder charge against Mockabee was dismissed in August of 2025, and she was ordered to be released from custody. The reasons for the dismissal of the charges have not been made public.
