On a Thursday morning in Indianapolis, the lives of two young men were tragically cut short. On November 12, 2020, 18-year-old Dana Dwayne 'Scrappy' Sharp, a male, was found deceased inside a home on the city's near north side. The grim discovery was made in the 4300 block of Carrollton Avenue, where another young man, 19-year-old Jaylen Beatty, was also found dead.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was called to the scene around 7:40 a.m.
following a report of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers found both Sharp and Beatty, marking the beginning of a double homicide investigation. While the Marion County Coroner's Office officially identified the two victims, the cause of their deaths was not publicly disclosed. News of the violent incident left the community seeking answers and justice for the two teenagers.
Dana, known affectionately as 'Scrappy,' was born on February 7, 2002. He had attended schools in both Washington Township and Pike Township and was employed at Indiana Staffing. He was a father, leaving behind a son. Described as funny and smart, his sudden death was a profound loss to his parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family members who mourned the young man with his life ahead of him.
In the wake of the double homicide, police officials stated that they did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public. The investigation into the deaths of Dana Sharp and Jaylen Beatty was launched, with authorities appealing to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. Despite the ongoing efforts of the IMPD Homicide Office, information regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects has not been released. The case remains an open investigation, and authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
