On December 28, 2019, the quiet early morning hours in New Albany, Indiana, were shattered by gunfire in what authorities described as a triple shooting. The incident occurred on the 1600 block of Bono Road, a residential area where police were dispatched around 4:30 a.m. following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, first responders discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
Among the victims was a 23-year-old Black / African American male named JaCory Long, a local tattoo artist known to his friends and family as "Redd."
Emergency personnel quickly transported the victims to the University of Louisville Hospital for urgent medical treatment. While the other two individuals—identified as JaCory’s older brother, 30-year-old Demetrius Duncan, and 29-year-old Keiara Reed—survived their injuries after being treated, JaCory did not survive. He succumbed to his wounds at the hospital, turning the investigation into a homicide case. The tragedy struck deeply for the family, especially as JaCory had reportedly spoken with his mother just minutes before the shooting took place.
The New Albany Police Department, assisted by the Indiana State Police, launched an investigation into the violence, which Chief Todd Bailey characterized as a rare occurrence for the safe community. Officers canvassed the neighborhood, speaking with residents and searching for evidence to piece together the events leading up to the gunfire. Despite the immediate response and the efforts of investigators to identify those involved, authorities did not immediately release information regarding potential suspects or a motive for the attack.
In the wake of the shooting, the case presented significant challenges for law enforcement. Public appeals were made for witnesses to come forward, but information remained scarce. As of the available records following the incident, no arrests had been made, and the investigation remained open with police continuing to seek leads that could identify the perpetrators. JaCory Long left behind a twin brother, a young daughter, and a grieving community still searching for answers and justice for the loss of a life cut short.
