Indianapolis teen in youth group against gun violence fatally shot on Halloween
Dontoria Gilbert lost her teenage son to gun violence on Halloween .
The mother didn't think she'd be standing in the middle of a room, surrounded by a circle of other boys as they clung to her grief-stricken words just a week later. These were the same boys who had gotten to know her son, grieving his loss while navigating circumstances sometimes out of their control to prevent a similar fate.
"He just chose the wrong crowd," Gilbert told them Wednesday night. "I just want all you young men to just please, be safe out here. Cause I lost my son, and I never thought it would be me. So, just please, choose your friends wisely."
While most boys listened intently, one child had his head inside of his shirt.
Marcus Johnson, 10, listened to his mother's cries for a while, before wiping his own tears and walking to the middle of the circle to hug her. While they tearfully clung to each other, others inside Francis Bellamy School 102 stood up to surround the family in support and prayer.
New B.O.Y. (Breed of Youth), the mentoring service program for young men, hosts its weekly Leader's Circle on Wednesdays. This week's focus was on healthy grieving, social emotional awareness, social media responsibility and decision making, all while remembering one of their own, Dashawn Anthony Gilbert, 17.
He was a Warren Central High School senior. According to his family, he kept himself busy with different jobs and he was set to graduate early this December.
The teen was shot and killed on Halloween night a block up the street from where he lived. He had just left his family's home before 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31, before being gunned down in the middle of the street on Brook Crossing Lane and Brook Crossing Court . Indianapolis Metropolitan Police have not named a suspect.
Now, the people who've gotten to know him over the past few years are trying to navigate the reality of youth gun violence hitting so close to home.
"We have some boys on juvenile probation," New B.O.Y. founder Kareem Hines said. "We have some in DCS, Indiana Department of Child Services, and we have some who will leave this circle tonight and go back to a detention facility. Not everybody in New B.O.Y. is in the system though. Some are just in situations where they can be easily influenced and I have mothers and grandmothers reaching out for help."
'Senseless violence': Indianapolis teen shot and killed Halloween night a block from home
Hines said Gilbert was never any trouble while a member of New B.O.Y.
What he'll miss most about him is the opportunity to see Gilbert be a big brother not only to Marcus but to the other young boys who were in the program.
"He was respectful and never gave me any back talk," Hines said. "I wish we could have him still here because now we really have to look out for his little brother. Now, we really have to check in on his mother and make sure that grief doesn't continue a cycle of hurt and pain."
Youth homicides in Indianapolis
Gilbert's death is the ninth youth homicide in the city this year, including the death of an unborn child, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police. Youth homicides have been down for the first time in the last five years and Hines attributes adults investing in young people as a major reason.
Kids and teens shot in non-fatal shootings are still higher numbers for the last five years. So far, there's been 63 gunshot victims under the age of 18 according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police.
Police ask anyone with information about Gilbert's death to contact Detective Jose Torres at his email or by phone at 317-327-3475. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477, by downloading the mobile P3tips app or visiting CrimeTips.org .
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at and follow her on X, formally Twitter
