By james art 
VIDEO: Teen shot and killed Halloween night in far east Indy
Dashon Anthony Gilbert, 17, was killed on Halloween night in Indianapolis on Brook Crossing Court. He is one of two children shot on Halloween.
Family members of Dashon Anthony Gilbert, 17, gathered outside their home on the far east end of Brook Crossing Lane Friday morning, more than 12 hours after the boy was shot and killed a block up the street.
They comfort his distraught mother, who said the Warren Central High senior is set to graduate early this year.
“He was quiet, he stood by himself,” said Dashon’s grandfather, Donald Gilbert. “He lived with me here. He came out last night around 7:25 and I told him he should probably go out.’
Dashon Gilbert was one of two Indianapolis youths shot and killed on Halloween. The other was a man shot in the 3400 block of Falcon Drive at 2:45 p.m. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition and is expected to survive. The circumstances surrounding his shooting and his age have not been released by police.
“In what should have been a night of fun and celebration for families in our city,” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said in a statement to IndyStar, “Two juveniles were tragically shot. Our thoughts are with the young victims and their families at this difficult time, and we are committed to holding accountable the person or persons responsible for this senseless violence.”
Dashon Anthony Gilbert, 17, dead on Halloween night
Police were called to the area of Brook Crossing Lane and Brook Crossing Court about a person down in the eastbound lane Thursday. There they found Gilbert shot in the road.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We were initially held back so we couldn’t go over there and see him or be with him,” Donald Gilbert said.
It was a neighbor who called 911 when he got home to find Gilbert in the middle of the street.
“His blood is still on the streets,” Shannon Bowles, a neighbor, told the IndyStar. “It’s disturbing. You have kids that are picked up by the bus right here. It is a reminder that this was the body of a young boy. Then to know it was while the kids were walking around, it could have been my daughter who got hit.”
Tameka Cooper is another neighbor who said she heard what she thought were fireworks on Halloween night. When she started seeing police lights outside her home, she learned they were gunshots.
“It’s really sad,” Cooper said. “It worries you as a mother and a parent.”
Tracy Russell is the teenager’s great-aunt and said that although Gilbert was quiet, he was a hard worker. He often does various kitchen chores and even tries to mow the lawn for the neighbors in the community. The teenager was saving for a car.
“He was doing better in school and he was ready to graduate,” Russell said. “He was always going to be with his brother and I just can’t believe this has happened. I’m just tired of gun violence.”
Gilbert’s family said they don’t know who would have shot the teenager.
“He was getting ready to go to college,” Donald Gilbert said.
Information about Gilbert’s death can be provided to Detective Jose Torres at [email protected]. Anyone with information about the shooting on North Rybolt Avenue should email Detective Randy Weitzel at [email protected]. Both investigators can be reached at 317-327-3475.
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at [email protected] and follow her on X, officially Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.