On a cold Saturday evening in South Bend, Indiana, the life of 17-year-old Daekwon Lee Tobar was tragically cut short. On February 17, 2018, police responded to reports of gunfire in the 4000 block of Silver Lane, near Mayflower Road. When they arrived shortly after 5:45 p.m., they found Daekwon suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The young man, a Black male born in Flint, Michigan, was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Daekwon, who was born on January 8, 2001, was a cherished member of his family and community. He was survived by his parents and seven siblings. His death sent ripples of grief through his circle of family and friends, who remembered him as a beloved son and baby brother. Funeral services were held at the Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church in South Bend, where those who knew him gathered to mourn their profound loss.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the South Bend Police Department’s County Metro Homicide Unit launched an investigation into Daekwon's death. Detectives interviewed several witnesses in an effort to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed in Fort Wayne to officially determine the cause of death. However, despite the initial investigative efforts, authorities did not release any information about a possible suspect or suspects, and no arrests were made in connection with the homicide. The circumstances surrounding Daekwon Tobar's death remain unresolved, and his case is a painful reminder of the impact of gun violence.
