On the evening of May 27, 2019, a violent incident unfolded on the east side of Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Hawthorne Place Apartments. Police officers were dispatched to the 5200 block of Butler Terrace, near the intersection of 33rd Street and Emerson Avenue, following reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival at the scene, first responders discovered a young man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
The victim was treated by medics and rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, but despite emergency medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead the following day, May 28, 2019.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the deceased as 19-year-old D'Angelo L. Settles, affectionately known to friends and family as 'D-Lo.' He was a Black male who had spent his life in Indianapolis, completing his education within the local public school system. Described by loved ones as a 'ray of sunshine' with a peaceful smile, he was known for his deep passion for automobiles, particularly sports cars, and was considered a race car driver at heart. He had held various jobs as a teenager to support his hobbies and was a member of the First Philemon House of Prayer.
Detectives from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation immediately following the shooting. At the time of the incident, law enforcement officials did not release specific details regarding a motive or a description of a potential assailant. Public records and crime databases tracking homicides in Indianapolis during that period listed the investigation into his death as unsolved, with no suspects publicly named or arrests reported in immediate connection with the shooting.
Following his untimely death, a celebration of life was organized by his family. He was survived by his parents, Tasha Carter and Corey Settles, as well as numerous siblings, grandparents, and extended family members. Services were handled by Stuart Mortuary, and he was laid to rest at New Crown Cemetery in Indianapolis, leaving behind a community of friends and relatives grieving the loss of a young life cut short by gun violence.
