SALEM — Authorities have released the name of the teenager killed in a Sunday evening shooting as investigators move forward with a reckless homicide case.
The Washington County Coroner’s Office and Indiana State Police (ISP) identified the victim as 14-year-old Jameson Crawford of Salem. An autopsy was performed Monday morning as part of the ongoing death investigation.
The fatal shooting occurred at approximately 7:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 19th, at a residence located on East Oak Drive in Salem.
Officers from the Salem Police Department were the first to arrive at the scene, where they discovered Crawford deceased from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Due to the nature of the incident, local authorities requested the assistance of detectives and crime scene investigators from the Indiana State Police Sellersburg Post.
Following a preliminary investigation at the scene, ISP Detective Travis Baker took a second 14-year-old male into custody.
The youth, whose identity is being withheld due to his age, has been charged with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony.
The suspect was processed and subsequently transported to the Allen County Juvenile Center in Fort Wayne. Under Indiana law, a Level 5 Felony for reckless homicide typically implies an act committed with a “plain, conscious, and unjustifiable disregard of harm.”
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not yet released details on the firearm’s ownership or the circumstances leading to its discharge.
Law enforcement officials remind the public that Indiana’s “Safe Storage” guidelines are critical in homes with minors. Firearms should be kept unloaded and locked in a secure container, with ammunition stored in a separate, locked location.
State police emphasize that the case remains open and additional information will be released when available, ISP officials stated in an updated release on Monday afternoon.
Local counseling services are expected to be available to students returning to school this week who may be affected by the loss of a classmate.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
