In an alley on the near east side of Indianapolis, the life of 22-year-old Demetri Swann, a male, came to a violent end on the night of April 14, 2021. Responding to reports of gunfire around 9:30 p.m., police discovered Swann in an alley near Ninth and Tuxedo streets, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting led detectives to two individuals, 20-year-old Marcus Dalton and a 13-year-old male.
Authorities later revealed that Dalton and the juvenile had gone to Swann's home with the intention of robbing him of guns, marijuana, and an Xbox. When Swann ran out of the house, he was chased, shot, and left to die in the alley behind his home. Surveillance footage from the area captured the sound of the gunshots and showed two suspects walking away from the alley and leaving in a black vehicle.
While speaking with a resident nearby, officers encountered Marcus Dalton, who matched the description of one of the suspects seen in the surveillance video. He was taken into custody, and a subsequent search of the residence where Dalton was found, along with a vehicle and his backpack, led to the recovery of the murder weapons. The 13-year-old suspect was also located inside the house and arrested.
Following a three-week jury trial, Marcus Dalton was convicted of murder and carrying a handgun without a license. In April 2023, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison for his role in Demetri Swann's death. The 13-year-old, identified in later reports as Dalton Spalding, was sent to juvenile detention. Court documents indicate he was released at some point, as he was arrested for other charges, including armed robbery and auto theft, in July 2024. In October 2024, at the age of 17, Spalding was charged with attempted murder in a separate case. During this later investigation, it was alleged that Spalding told someone not to 'try anything' because he 'already has two bodies,' though only his involvement in Swann's death has been confirmed.
