In the early hours of the Fourth of July in 2018, a gathering of young people on South Hollywood Boulevard in South Bend, Indiana, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 17-year-old Aubry Edwards. The male teenager was attending a bonfire party when he was fatally shot in the head while sitting inside a car. The incident occurred around 2 a.m., abruptly turning a festive occasion into a scene of violence.
Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene.
The aftermath of the shooting led to the swift arrest of another 17-year-old, Caleb Hayes, who was taken into custody at the location of the party. According to accounts from witnesses at the scene, the situation escalated after Hayes allegedly made threats to kill Edwards. Shortly after the verbal threat, a single gunshot was heard. Witnesses reported that Hayes then returned to the house and admitted to shooting Edwards in the temple area.
In a surprising twist during the initial investigation, Hayes's father, Sean Mayes, told police that he was the one who had fired the gun. However, based on witness statements and further investigation, Caleb Hayes was charged with murder in connection with Aubry Edwards's death. He was taken into custody and held without bond pending his arraignment. The shooting was a devastating event for the community, cutting short a young life and leaving another to face serious criminal charges.
