Indianapolis police officers responded to a report of a person shot near a playground in the 3900 block of Rue Rabelais on the northeast side of the city around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday March 28, 2026. The apartment complex in this residential neighborhood is a common gathering spot for local youth and families.
Upon arrival officers found 15-year-old Tre’Von Riggins suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported in critical condition to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The shooting occurred in the playground area of the apartment complex where Tre’Von had been spending time with friends in this northeast Indianapolis community.
Tre’Von Riggins was a student at the local high school and a participant in the NEW B.O.Y. youth mentorship program where he had been making positive strides after earlier struggles with academics and running away from home. He had faced police charges in the past but was focused on improving his grades and building a better future. Family and mentors described him as a bright and energetic young man who was determined to turn his life around and was actively working toward his goals in the Indianapolis area.
Those closest to Tre’Von remembered him as a goofy and affectionate boy with a contagious smile who loved making people laugh and creating TikTok videos and dances with his sisters. He was a loving brother to his siblings and a caring partner to his girlfriend with a big heart that made him a mentor to younger kids his nephews and nieces.
His pastor at New Life Deliverance Tabernacle described Tre’Von as like a son who volunteered in the church’s food distribution ministry helping load vans and deliver food to apartments in the community. The church took him under its wing and shared guidance to help him become a productive young man. Tre’Von sang in the choir and volunteered as an usher reflecting his deep connection to faith and service in the Indianapolis neighborhood.
The shooting in the playground area of the apartment complex on the northeast side has left the Indianapolis community in profound grief with extra counseling services activated at schools and local organizations. Family and friends have shared heartfelt tributes highlighting Tre’Von’s positive spirit and the void left by his loss just days before his 17th birthday. A GoFundMe has been established to support funeral expenses and the family’s needs as they navigate this unimaginable time.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department continues its active investigation into the March 28 shooting in the 3900 block of Rue Rabelais urging anyone with information or video from the apartment complex playground to contact detectives. The case remains open with focus on the events that led to the gunfire in this northeast side neighborhood. Authorities have asked the public for assistance while the family of Tre’Von Riggins honors his memory and seeks justice for the violent end to his promising young life in Indianapolis.
