Juwan-Howard Smith, a 16-year-old Black male from Indianapolis, Indiana, was tragically killed on the evening of October 8, 2018. A student at Southport High School, he was described by his family as a good student, an athlete, and a protective older brother to his three siblings. On what was the first day of his fall break, his life was cut short by gun violence.
That evening, around 8:10 p.m., police responded to a report of a person shot.
Smith was discovered in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 900 block of Lake Nora Court South on the city's far north side. He was suffering from gunshot wounds. A passing Hamilton County medic found him and rushed him to St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital, but despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. His family expressed their profound grief and confusion, stating they did not know why he was in that part of the city.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the shooting. However, the motive and the specific circumstances that led to the incident remain unclear. As of the latest available reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Juwan-Howard Smith, and no suspects have been publicly identified. His family and the community continue to await answers and justice in his unsolved case.
