Indianapolis Murder Suspect Tracked Down in San Antonio 18 Months After Fatal Shooting

A Long-Cold Case Finally Breaks Open

On November 17, 2024, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot at the 500 block of East Market Street, where they found 20-year-old Ty'Shuan Williams dead with gunshot wounds on the third floor of an apartment building. The shooting occurred at the E'Laan Apartments near the Wheeler Mission men's shelter in downtown Indianapolis. For the next year and a half, the case remained unresolved — until a determined team of detectives refused to let it go cold.

Witnesses helped investigators identify Shakayla Johnson as the shooter early on, but she was originally detained for questioning and then released pending further investigation. Police believed from the beginning that the killing stemmed from domestic violence, but after Johnson claimed self-defense, detectives had little choice but to let her go while they continued building their case. It was a frustrating pause — but not the end of the story.

New Evidence, a Grand Jury, and a Warrant

While details from the grand jury indictment are mostly confidential, IMPD said new information about the shooting helped lead to Johnson being charged and tracked down to Texas, where she had been living. Nearly two years after Williams' death, detectives in Indianapolis discovered more evidence and issued a warrant on June 11, 2026, for Johnson's arrest. The breakthrough illustrates how modern investigations rarely truly stall — detectives continue working behind the scenes long after a case fades from public view.

After Williams' late 2024 death, Johnson had relocated to the northwest side of San Antonio, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals. When IMPD learned she was living in Texas, they contacted the U.S. Marshals Service to take her into custody, and Johnson was arrested on June 24 and brought back to Indianapolis.

Behind Bars and Awaiting Trial

Johnson, 22, was taken back to Marion County, where the alleged crime was committed, and faces a murder charge, according to the U.S. Marshals. She is now being held without bond, awaiting trial. Before the homicide, there was no documented history of domestic violence between the victim and the suspect — a detail that domestic violence awareness advocates say underscores just how unpredictable such situations can be.

Although it took 18 months to make the arrest, IMPD credited a relentless pursuit by detectives and teamwork with helping bring the case to this point. "New information was a breakthrough for our detectives," said an IMPD spokesperson. "This new evidence opened that up for us. We were able to hold somebody accountable in this case."

A Message to the Public: Tips Still Matter

Police hope the arrest — coming 18 months after they were first called to the scene — encourages anyone with information on old cases to reach out to detectives, no matter how much time has passed. It's a reminder that unsolved cases are rarely forgotten by the people working them. Investigators piece together evidence gradually, and a single new detail can change everything.

"That new information can be crucial. We encourage anybody who has information about a case; we want to hear from you, because that can be crucial," the IMPD spokesperson said. As Johnson's case now moves through the Marion County court system, the Williams family — and the broader Indianapolis community — will be watching to see whether the long wait for accountability finally leads to justice.