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Indianapolis Star
06-08-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Indy Peace Fellow, city worker shoots self during gun search warrant
This story contains mention of suicide. If you are in crisis or seeking emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988. Police at my door. (Sent at 5:52 p.m. on July 14) This would be the last text message Tanna Drye would receive from her 25-year-old son. The mother would then video chat with him while officers with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force surrounded his Linwood Manor apartment on the city's east side. Her 3-year-old grandson was also inside the apartment with his father. Everything her son had worked hard for was at a standstill once again. She figured he'd confess to the actions that led police to his door and take accountability like he had before. Knowing he would be rearrested, she drove to his apartment to pick up his child. But then, her son's apologetic tone suddenly shifted. "He's like, 'Mama, I love you. I'm sorry, but I gotta go," Tanna Drye told IndyStar. "'Tell my little brothers I love them. Tell everybody I'm sorry and I love them.' I heard him kiss Ky'Aire and say, 'I love you, buddy. I'll see you later,' and then I heard a boom." DaShawn Drye was pronounced dead at the scene. The task force was at his apartment after getting a tip about firearms. They were conducting a search warrant, knocking on the door twice, before they heard a gunshot from inside. DaShawn Drye was a father who worked as a garbage collector for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works. He had met with Mayor Joe Hogsett weeks before the shooting at an Indy Peace Fellowship graduation. He'd also begun sharing his story about being caught in a cycle of crime on local podcasts. Tanna Drye was 14 years old and in foster care when she gave birth to DaShawn. His father was an 18-year-old who would spend most of his adult life in and out of jail. DaShawn Drye was the oldest of four boys, and being on Section 8 housing assistance meant the boys grew up in areas of the city riddled with poverty and crime. She remembers the moment that solidified for her that her oldest was going down the wrong path. "He got jumped at (Arsenal) Tech (High School) when he was 16," Tanna Drye said. "So, after that, he got a gun for protection." In a podcast interview posted on YouTube in April of this year, DaShawn Drye said a fascination with guns started when he was 14 years old. He took his mother's boyfriend's gun and shot it randomly, sending an adrenaline rush through him. His mother tried to guide him in the right direction to get a job, so at 16, he started working at a restaurant, but minimum wage wasn't enough to care for his family, who started to experience homelessness. "My mom was messing with a dude who was basically getting it on in the streets," DaShawn Drye said in the interview. "I'm seeing the bankrolls... So, I hit him up and said I'm quitting my job, and I want you to show me how to get it." He got his first car by age 17 and was able to help his mother pay bills, but he'd been caught with a firearm and crack while hanging out downtown and taken to the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center. DaShawn Drye never finished high school, and after doing his time for a juvenile charge, he would be faced with an attempted murder charge at the age of 18 in 2018. His mother said DaShawn Drye was targeted in a gas station drug deal setup. "As soon as we walk in, we're surrounded by these people and this other boy comes up to fight him," Tanna Drye said. According to court documents, DaShawn Drye was punched by another teen, so he pulled a gun and fired multiple rounds in and around the store, before driving off and taking police on a high-speed chase. A Delaware County sheriff's deputy arrested Drye during a traffic stop, but before he was caught, police allege his mother threw the handgun used in the shooting from their vehicle before it was recovered. She was preliminarily charged with obstruction of justice, but those charges were later dropped. "Somebody could have gotten hurt who didn't have nothing to do with anything," DaShawn Drye remorsefully recounted in the interview. "Cause I was being reckless. It was a woman holding her baby right next to that door... I would never want to put a child's life in danger." He would be found guilty of criminal recklessness, but with credit for time served and good behavior, he was released from jail two years later. DaShawn Drye said 48 days after he walked home a free man, he caught a new case carrying a firearm and heroin. He'd be placed on house arrest, but someone had taught him a trick to block his ankle monitor's signal so he couldn't be traced, and he rejoined the street and gang life. "I'm going out on missions, shooting up houses and doing things, like if you know you know," DaShawn Drye said in the interview. Unbeknownst to him, a federal investigation had been started on him and the gang. "They hacked a female's page from the city and had been watching me the whole time," DaShawn Drye said. "So, one day I posted some weed, and that page hit my line." This time, he'd go to prison, and although his mother was there for him emotionally, she didn't have the financial means to put money on his books. So, while inside, he would beat and rob people for resources. He'd catch a felony while fighting his original case because of the injuries he caused a man while trying to rob him for food. He was transferred to Miami Correctional Facility in 2019, which he said would change his perspective on life because of the level of violence he'd seen. He claimed the nurses wore bulletproof vests, and his sixth day there, his bunkie was stabbed in their cell over 30 times. The worst part was having to watch his son grow up through a screen. "I'm tired of doing time. I'd rather be here for my son and be a real father and give him the childhood I never had." When he got out of prison, he became a full-time parent and received multiple certificates from Job Force. He got his first apartment, and Tanna Drye said she was so excited to see him get a full-time job with the city. She could tell he wanted to do better for himself and help others steer away from a life of crime, so he joined the Indy Peace Fellows. "But he just couldn't get away from those guns," Tanna Drye said. "He was buying and selling them out of the apartment. Somebody tipped off the police, and I don't know what happened in that prison, but he didn't want to go back. Now, my baby is gone." She said he was on a spiritual journey and wanted to become a motivational speaker for other young people. Now, his mother is left heartbroken that he couldn't escape the hold the streets had on him when he was doing so well.
Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
State crime task force bill receives final OK from Indiana Senate
A Lake County-focused House bill continues its streak of unanimous approval as the Senate voted to move it to Gov. Mike Braun's desk Monday. House Bill 1095 — authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago — would expand the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area to include Lake County. The Senate approved the bill in a 46-0 vote Monday. Senate sponsors for the bill include Sens. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland; Rick Neimeyer, R-Lowell; and Mark Spencer, D-Gary. During the Senate meeting, Dernulc said House Bill 1095 builds on the crimes task force bill Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, authored in 2021. Steuerwald's bill brought in eight counties from Central Indiana into the task force, he said. The task force brings together local and state police along with federal partners to track and remove illegal guns, investigate gun crimes and improve coordination between agencies, Dernulc said. In 2024, the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force investigated over 150 leads that resulted in the arrests of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal guns, and over 75,000 grams of drugs, Dernulc said. Last year, Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, was able to ensure Allen County was added to the task force. This year, Dernulc said Lake County should be added to the task force. The bill had previously passed the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety and Senate Corrections and Criminal Law committees. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly's website. Harris previously told the Post-Tribune that the plan is to take the task force statewide. 'It's good when you talk about getting guns off the street and also it's helpful in terms of getting illegal narcotics off the street,' Harris had said. 'Wanting Lake County, where I live and represent, to be part of that as soon as possible is important to me.' After the vote, Harris stated that while homicides in Lake County have dropped in recent years, 'it's still imperative that we find ways to mitigate gun violence and enhance public safety in our community. This bill will help us get illegal guns and dangerous narcotics off our streets and make Lake County a safer place to live and raise a family.' He thanked his sponsors and added that he looked forward to working with Braun to get the legislation signed into law. Spencer also previously told the Post-Tribune that the task force will add value to Northwest Indiana, and he's encouraged by the success it's seen in other areas of the state. Harris has talked about the bill with Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez and other sheriff's officials. In a previous statement to the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the department supports the bill and is eager to receive more information. 'We look forward to this new level of cooperation and to being a part of an organization committed to removing illegal firearms from our communities,' he said. 'We hope this partnership will allow us to share critical resources, intelligence and technology to address gun-related violence in our community and across the state.' Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter also previously told the Post-Tribune that he supports the task force's expansion. He believes the task force will help better prosecute offenders. 'I am proud to be part of this effort, and my participation in the task force allows me to contribute my expertise in prosecuting gun-related crimes, ensuring we have a strong legal framework to tackle these issues,' Carter said. 'I urge lawmakers to pass this measure for the safety and well-being of all Hoosiers, including those in Lake County.'
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana crime task force expansion bill receives unanimous Senate support
After unanimous approval Tuesday, the Indiana Senate will soon vote on a House bill that would bring a state crime task force to Lake County. House Bill 1095 — authored by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago — would expand the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area. Six state senators on the Corrections and Criminal Law committee voted for the bill, which also unanimously passed the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committee. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly's website. After the committee hearing, Harris said Allen County was added to the task force two years ago. At that time, he offered an amendment when the House was discussing the bill for Lake County to join the task force. In response, Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, who authored the bill creating the task force, and Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, who authored the Allen County bill, told Harris that one county can join the task force at a time. Harris said he withdrew the amendment after receiving a promise from Steuerwald and Carbaugh that Lake County would be the next county added to the task force. 'The plan is to take this statewide,' Harris said. 'It's good when you talk about getting guns off the street and also it's helpful in terms of getting illegal narcotics off the street. Wanting Lake County, where I live and represent, to be a part of that as soon as possible is important to me.' Since filing the bill, Harris said he talked with Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez, and other sheriff's officials, about it. Sheriff's officials have been completely supportive of and are enthusiastic about Lake County being a part of this,' Harris said. In a statement to the Post-Tribune, Martinez said the sheriff's department supports the bill and is eager to receive more information on how it will work. The sheriff's department believes the task force will facilitate more cooperation between agencies, Martinez said in his statement. 'We look forward to this new level of cooperation and to being a part of an organization committed to removing illegal firearms from our communities,' Martinez said. 'We hope this partnership will allow us to share critical resources, intelligence and technology to address gun-related violence in our community and across the state.' Before the vote, Harris told Corrections and Criminal Law committee members that the Lake County Sheriff supported the program. In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 cases that led to the arrest of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal firearms and 75,507 grams of illegal narcotics, according to a Jan. 30 news release from Harris. In a statement Tuesday, Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said he fully supports the task force's expansion. Carter believes the involvement will help better prosecute offenders, his statement said. 'I am proud to be part of this effort, and my participation in the task force allows me to contribute my expertise in prosecuting gun-related crimes, ensuring we have a strong legal framework to tackle these issues,' Carter said. 'I urge lawmakers to pass this measure for the safety and well-being of all Hoosiers, including those in Lake County.' Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary, said it's important for legislators to take any action they can to curb gun violence. Spencer is one of House Bill 1095's sponsors. Sens. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, and Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, also sponsored the bill. The task force will add value to the whole community, Spencer said. He's also encouraged by the success it has seen in other areas of the state. 'That's always a plus,' Spencer said. 'It gives you the confidence that it can bear fruit or it could be a value added for our region.' Dernulc is pleased to know other representatives see the value of adding Lake County to the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force, he said Tuesday. He's also encouraged by the unanimous support the bill has received, and Dernulc said he expects that trend to continue. 'This (bill) is just common sense,' Dernulc said. 'I look forward to the governor signing it.'
Chicago Tribune
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
House bill to expand crime task force into Lake County moves to Senate
A bill that would expand a crime task force has received a unanimous vote from the Indiana House of Representatives and moved to the Senate. House Bill 1095 would allow the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area to include Lake County. Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, authored the bill, which was on the House floor Tuesday afternoon. The bill received 89 votes for passage Tuesday afternoon. House Bill 1095 also received unanimous support from the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 30. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. The task force expanded into Allen County two years ago, Harris said Tuesday. 'Part of the plan with the Crime Guns Task Force was to expand it throughout the state,' Harris said. 'House Bill 1095 aims to add Lake County to the task force.' Rep. Gregory Steuerwald, R-Danville, is one of the bill's co-authors and told the House that the task force has been successful since it was created. 'The plan has always been to take this statewide,' he said. 'There's been over 20-some cities from across the country that have come here to visit this crime gun task force location. It is knocking it out of the park.' In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 cases that led to the arrest of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal firearms and 75,507 grams of illegal narcotics, according to a Jan. 30 news release from Harris. The Lake County Coroner's Office investigated 65 homicides last year, according to the news release. 'The task force would give Lake County the chance to clean up our streets, providing additional resources to connect guns to other crimes throughout the region,' Harris said. 'Statistically speaking, we see a trend in the right direction for gun crimes in Lake County; we just want people to feel those statistics and I believe the expansion of this task force would keep trends flowing in the right direction enough for residents to feel a difference.' Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a statement that expanding the task force 'is a critical step in addressing the flow of illegal firearms and reducing violent crime in our communities,' according to Post-Tribune archives. Carter fully supports the bill and urges lawmakers to pass it. Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said he's pleased to see the General Assembly taking these steps, according to Post-Tribune archives. The city's police department plans to fully collaborate with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force if the legislation passes. Gary led Lake County's homicide numbers for 2024, according to information from the coroner's office. Of the county's 65 homicide deaths last year, 24 victims died in Gary. Harris' news release also highlighted East Chicago and Hammond as areas that would benefit from the expanded task force. Lake County coroner statistics said Hammond had 13 homicide deaths in 2024, and East Chicago had four homicide deaths. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Indiana General Assembly website did not say when the Senate will vote on House Bill 1095.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana House bill to expand crime task force into Lake County advanced to floor
A bill that aims to expand a task force to Lake County has advanced to the Indiana House of Representatives floor. House Bill 1095 would allow the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force area to include Lake County. Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago, authored the bill, which received a unanimous vote on Thursday by the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. 'The task force would give Lake County the chance to clean up our streets, providing additional resources to connect guns to other crimes throughout the region,' Harris said in a statement following Thursday's vote. 'Statistically speaking, we see a trend in the right direction for gun crimes in Lake County; we just want people to feel those statistics and I believe the expansion of this task force would keep trends flowing in the right direction enough for residents to feel a difference.' The Lake County Coroner's Office investigated 65 homicides last year, Harris's statement said. The Indiana Crime Guns Task Force was signed into law in 2021 and addresses violent crime in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan, Johnson and Shelby counties, according to the Indiana General Assembly website. In 2024, the task force investigated more than 150 cases that led to the arrest of 232 people, the seizure of more than 270 illegal firearms and 75,507 grams of illegal narcotics, according to a news release from Harris. The task force has an executive board that consists of the chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Indiana State Police Superintendent and a sheriff or police chief from each department covered by the group, according to Indiana code. Current law requires five board members for a quorum during business, but House Bill 1095 would increase the number to seven. Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said in a statement that expanding the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to include Lake County 'is a critical step in addressing the flow of illegal firearms and reducing violent crime in our communities.' 'By broadening the task force's reach, we strengthen our ability to track and prosecute those persons responsible for gun-related offenses. Additionally, the adjustments to the executive boards' quorum and voting procedures will ensure more effective governance and decision-making,' Carter said. Carter said that he fully supports the bill and urged lawmakers to pass it. A Thursday news release highlighted Gary, East Chicago and Hammond as areas that would benefit from the expanded task force. Representatives from East Chicago and Hammond's police departments were unable to provide a statement for this story. Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon said in a statement that he's pleased to see the General Assembly taking these steps. The city's police department has not been contacted about the legislation, Cannon said. 'For years, the Gary Police Department has worked diligently to prevent the circulation of illegal guns within our community,' Cannon said in his statement. 'If this legislation passes, the City of Gary looks forward to fully collaborating with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force.' Cannon added that the Gary police work with other agencies, including the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program. Gary led Lake County's homicide numbers for 2024, according to information from the coroner's office. Of the county's 65 homicide deaths in 2024, 24 victims died in Gary. The city's police department said in a Jan. 10 news release that Gary saw 40 homicides in 2024, which is a 23% decline from 52 in 2023. Last year, the city had its lowest number recorded since 2018, according to the news release. 'I believe it's a move in a positive direction,' Cannon previously told the Post-Tribune. 'The citizens make sure that when we receive information, we're being held accountable and making sure that we do something about it. I think this was a record year for the police department in a few categories, and I'm hoping to maintain that momentum going forward in 2025.' Hammond had 10 homicides in 2024, according to Cpt. Steve Kellogg, but coroner statistics said 13 homicides occurred in the city. East Chicago had four homicides in 2024, according to coroner statistics and Police Chief Jose Rivera. The Indiana House's next session is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Monday. As of Friday, the general assembly's website did not say when the floor is expected to hear House Bill 1095. mwilkins@
