Indianapolis, IN
Homeowner says he killed intruder with suspect’s own gun in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — A man is dead following an attempted home invasion in Indianapolis.
Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to a neighborhood on the city’s east side after a homeowner reported a masked man forced his way into the home during an attempted robbery.
That homeowner, Brent Smith, spoke with Nexstar’s WXIN shortly after being released from custody without charges.
“He smacked me in the head with a gun and told me I knew what it was and then I yelled out he’s trying to rob me,” Smith explained, recounting the incident.
Smith claims he then quickly began to fight with the would-be thief and the pair crashed through a glass table inside his home.
“It was like a movie, me and him wrestling over the gun,” said Smith.
During that struggle, Smith admits he shot the intruder with the suspect’s own gun.
Damon Swanigan, Jr., 22, died on the front step of the home, which was then hit by a barrage of bullets from outside. That gunfire, believed to have come from an unknown number of suspects outside the home, damaged the siding and the front door, as well as shattering the windows of a car parked in the street.
“When the gun went off I heard thousands of gunshots,” said Smith. “It was a lot of gunfire man, a lot of gunfire.”
Smith said during that shootout, he grabbed his own gun and returned fire before the suspects in the street drove away, leaving behind a pile of broken car glass.
“I didn’t even think, ‘them or me.’ I was just basically trying to survive myself, man,” said Smith.
Police questioned Smith overnight, but because Indiana law allows people to defend themselves and their home with deadly force, he was released pending further investigation.
Smith remains emotional thinking about the life he had taken.
“That doesn’t make no sense, man. I didn’t want to do that,” said Smith. “I don’t know his intention, but I didn’t want to be shot. That’s just all there is to it.”
Police did not have any information on the suspect or suspects who may have fled the scene.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr
Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy
(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.
Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.
The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.
🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child
Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.
🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person
Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.
🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free
Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.
🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person
Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.
🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child
The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Community Love Fest 2026, an initiative happening over four days, will start on Wednesday at an Indianapolis church.
The STR8UP Mentoring Foundation, touted as an Indianapolis-based nonprofit to help at-risk urban youths, aims for the event to be a safe and productive start to summer for Indianapolis youth and families.
The kickoff rally will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, 4958 Ribble Road. That’s off East 30th Street west of its intersections with Massachusetts Avenue and Emerson Avenue.
A community cleanup day will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at 3036 N. Sherman Drive, just north of East 30th Street.
A basketball tournament and a health and resource fair will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at Washington Park, 3130 E. 30th St.
STR8UP programs include educational partnerships that support students from kindergarten through young adulthood, and intramural sports to encourage teamwork and healthy competition.
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