In the summer of 2017, a young man's life was tragically cut short in Muncie, Indiana, leaving a void in the hearts of his family and friends. Tracy J. Wheat II, a 19-year-old male, was at a home in the 6100 block of West Delaware County Road 350-N on July 23, 2017, when he was shot in the head. Despite being rushed to I.U. Health Ball Memorial Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries later that evening, surrounded by his loved ones.
Remembered for his beautiful green eyes, double dimples, and a heart of gold, Tracy was a graduate of the Muncie Area Career Center and had plans to join the U.S. Navy. His independent spirit and the love he had for his family and friends were defining characteristics of his all-too-brief life.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting were initially shrouded in conflicting stories. The man responsible for the fatal shot, 20-year-old Dillon Gage Jackson, claimed the incident was a tragic accident that occurred during horseplay. He told authorities that he had forgotten the handgun was loaded when he pointed it at Tracy and pulled the trigger. However, this account was contradicted by at least one witness who described the interaction between Jackson and Wheat as a loud and unfriendly confrontation. Another witness stated that Tracy had expressed fear of Jackson earlier that same morning.
Following the investigation, Dillon Gage Jackson was arrested and faced serious charges, including murder, pointing a firearm, and criminal recklessness. The legal proceedings that followed brought some measure of justice, though not to the full extent Tracy's family had hoped for. In November 2019, a jury found Jackson guilty of reckless homicide, and he was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison. During the sentencing, Tracy's parents expressed their belief that a murder conviction would have been achieved if all testimony had been presented to the jury. In addition to the criminal case, Tracy's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jackson's father, alleging he was negligent in providing his son with access to the firearm and failing to properly instruct him on its safe use. The lawsuit also claimed there was a significant delay in calling for emergency medical help after the shooting.
