In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 27, 2016, the life of 15-year-old Roshun Johnson, a male student at Franklin Central High School, was cut short in a house on Gordon Way in Indianapolis. Investigators pieced together a narrative suggesting that Johnson had allegedly used the 'Meet Me' smartphone dating application to lure a 21-year-old man to the residence under the pretense of a date.
Johnson had reportedly gained access to a girl's phone to orchestrate the meeting.
Once the 21-year-old man arrived at the house, which Johnson was known to frequent to visit a friend, the situation quickly escalated. The man told police that Johnson ordered him to sit down before brandishing and cocking a handgun. Simultaneously, another individual in the house began to pat him down. The man, who was a licensed handgun carrier, stated that when he expressed his desire to leave, Johnson and his accomplice refused to let him go.
Fearing for his life and believing he was about to be robbed and potentially killed, the 21-year-old drew his own firearm and shot Johnson. Immediately after the shooting, he fled from the home and called 911 to report the incident. Homicide detectives took him into custody for questioning.
After providing his statement, the 21-year-old man was released from custody. Authorities announced that they would present the case to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for a thorough review. This review would determine whether the man's actions were justified as self-defense. As part of their investigation, detectives planned to examine the messages exchanged on the 'Meet Me' app to corroborate the man's account of the events. There have been no subsequent online reports regarding any arrests or the filing of criminal charges in connection with the death of Roshun Johnson.
