Keyonja Barnes, a 20-year-old Black male, tragically lost his life on June 13, 2020, in Evansville, Indiana. On that fatal Friday night, multiple 911 calls reported the sound of three to ten gunshots in the 1700 block of Bedford Avenue. When emergency responders arrived at the scene, they discovered Barnes with a critical gunshot wound to the head. He was quickly transported to a local hospital for medical intervention, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries.
An autopsy later confirmed that a single gunshot wound to the head was the cause of death.
The investigation into the shooting suggested that the shots were fired from a vehicle that was seen speeding away from the area immediately after the incident. Despite the efforts of the Evansville Police Department, the identity of the shooter or shooters remains unknown, and no arrests have been made in connection with the homicide. The case is still considered one of the city's unsolved homicides from 2020, leaving his family and the community searching for answers and justice.
The tragedy of Keyonja's death was compounded by further acts of violence in the days that followed. During a vigil held in his memory, a woman was shot in the leg. In a separate incident the following night, his brother was one of two individuals injured in another shooting. Known affectionately as 'Onja' to his loved ones, he was remembered for his contagious smile and his love for joking around. He was a father and was said to have never met a stranger.
