In an instant of unimaginable violence, 35-year-old Anthony Johnson II's life was tragically cut short on a Saturday night in March 2021. He had been visiting a home on North Randolph Street on the east side of Indianapolis when a domestic dispute over a stimulus check escalated into a mass shooting. Anthony, an innocent bystander, was caught in the deadly crossfire that erupted inside the residence.
The argument, which began between Malik Halfacre and his girlfriend over his demand for
half of her stimulus money, turned fatal. Halfacre is said to have pulled out a handgun and opened fire, killing Anthony and three other people inside the house: 44-year-old Tomeeka Brown, 23-year-old Dequan Moore, and 7-year-old Eve Moore. Halfacre's girlfriend was also critically injured in the shooting.
Following the horrific events, Halfacre fled the scene, taking his infant daughter with him. A search for him ensued, and he was apprehended the following day, found hiding in the attic of a friend's home. The baby was later found unharmed.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide detectives arrested 25-year-old Malik Halfacre in connection with the four murders. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office formally charged him with four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, armed robbery, and auto theft. According to court documents, Halfacre admitted to the shootings after his arrest.
Anthony Johnson II, described by his wife Gwendolyn as a loving man she had met at a church function where he was volunteering for a youth program, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. His unexpected death left his family heartbroken and struggling to cover his funeral expenses, a burden that was eventually eased by a donation from a well-known musical artist. The tragic loss of Anthony Johnson and the other victims sent shockwaves through the Indianapolis community.
