A promising young life was tragically cut short on a spring evening in Gary, Indiana. Demetrius Townsel Jr., a 12-year-old boy from Chicago, was visiting family when he was fatally shot on Saturday, May 16, 2020. The young male was a sixth-grade student at Bailey Academy in Chicago, where he was well-liked and known for his love of math and gym classes.
His family remembered him as a happy and funny child who enjoyed playing video games and had aspirations of becoming a basketball player.
On the evening of the incident, Demetrius, his twin brother Darius, and two other children were with a 21-year-old relative. The group had just left a gas station to buy snacks when their car was suddenly targeted by gunfire in the 2600 block of Pierce Street around 9 p.m. A bullet struck Demetrius in the head. In a heroic but futile effort, his twin brother, Darius, immediately applied pressure to the wound, holding his brother as they rushed to the hospital. A Gary police officer noticed the speeding vehicle and, upon learning of the dire situation, escorted them to Methodist Hospitals Northlake campus. Despite these efforts, Demetrius Townsel Jr. was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Gary Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the seemingly random act of violence. Authorities stated that no one in the car appeared to be the intended target. In the days following the shooting, Demetrius's grieving family, along with community activists, held press conferences, pleading for the public's help in identifying the person or persons responsible for his death. A reward was offered for any information that would lead to an arrest. However, despite the ongoing investigation and the family's heartfelt pleas for justice, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests made or suspects identified in the shooting death of Demetrius Townsel Jr. The case remains a painful and unresolved tragedy for his loved ones and the community.
