On a tragic evening in Indianapolis, a young life was cut short, leaving a family and community in mourning. Seventeen-year-old Oswin Fernando Ortiz, a male of Hispanic/Latino descent, was fatally shot on September 11, 2019. Known for his vibrant personality and protective nature towards his loved ones, Oswin was a junior at Perry Meridian High School who enjoyed playing football and weightlifting.
The incident unfolded shortly before 11 p.m.
in the 300 block of West Edwards Avenue, on the south side of Indianapolis. Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call and found Oswin unconscious, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooting was the culmination of a dispute that had escalated into deadly violence. In his final moments, when asked by his father who had shot him, Oswin could only utter the word 'Snapchat' and point to his phone, a clue that would be pivotal for investigators.
The subsequent investigation delved into Oswin's social media activity, revealing that he had used Snapchat to arrange the sale of THC cartridges. It was through this digital connection that he encountered his assailant. The investigation identified Joshua Grow, who was 18 at the time, as the suspect. Evidence from their Snapchat accounts showed that Grow had been searching for someone to rob to get money just hours before the fatal encounter.
Joshua Grow was arrested in connection with Oswin's murder. He later pleaded guilty to a charge related to the shooting and was subsequently sentenced to serve several decades in prison. The case highlighted a concerning trend of youth violence in the city, with Oswin's death marking the 11th homicide of a minor in Indianapolis in 2019. The tragic event also underscored the role that social media can play in facilitating violent encounters among young people.
