Son Shot at Father's Funeral in Indianapolis

Shooting at church service leaves one dead, two injured as family mourns loss of patriarch.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:11am

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Deon Hart Jr. was preparing to lay his father, Deon 'Punchy' Hart, to rest at Antioch Fountain of Grace Baptist Church in Indianapolis when a disturbance led to shots being fired outside the church. Hart Jr. was shot in both hands and is now recovering from his injuries, while one other person died from the shooting. The police have not made any arrests and are urging the community to come forward with information to help bring the perpetrator to justice.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing problem of gun violence in Indianapolis, even during solemn events like funerals. It has left a family grieving the loss of their patriarch while also dealing with the trauma of the shooting. The shooting has also shaken the local church community, which had opened its doors to host the funeral.

The details

According to police, a disturbance outside Antioch Fountain of Grace Baptist Church led to shots being fired, leaving one person dead and two others, including Deon Hart Jr., injured. Hart Jr. suffered gunshot wounds to both of his hands and had to spend hours in the hospital. The police report indicates that two other people were also victims of the shooting, though their conditions are unknown.

  • The shooting occurred on Saturday morning as the funeral service for Deon 'Punchy' Hart was taking place.
  • Hart Jr. got home from the hospital around 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The players

Deon Hart Jr.

The son of Deon 'Punchy' Hart, who was preparing to lay his father to rest when he was shot in both hands during the incident outside the church.

Deon 'Punchy' Hart

The father of Deon Hart Jr. who was being laid to rest at the time of the shooting.

Antioch Fountain of Grace Baptist Church

The church that was hosting the funeral service for Deon 'Punchy' Hart when the shooting occurred outside.

Dr. Clyde Posley Jr.

The pastor of Antioch Fountain of Grace Baptist Church, who expressed his dismay at the violence that disrupted the funeral service.

IMPD Sergeant William Young

A spokesperson for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department who urged the community to come forward with information about the shooting.

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What they’re saying

“It's just senseless.”

— Deon Hart Jr.

“I hope it was all worth it, whatever was going through your mind between you and the other individual this morning. To do it during a family gathering, a service that's trying to put someone to rest, is just uncalled for and just shows the type of empathy and emotions you have as a human being.”

— Deon Hart Jr.

“Very standup guy. He would do anything for you, honestly. Had a big heart. He had a lot of love, and everybody loved him.”

— Deon Hart Jr.

“My church has been in this community over 60 years, it's 140 years old. We open our doors to families to have funerals because we see ourselves as a community church. That was insulted today.”

— Dr. Clyde Posley Jr., Pastor, Antioch Fountain of Grace Baptist Church

“You've heard us talk about conflict resolution before, but wanting to do this outside or inside of a church or around a church, for that matter, is certainly disturbing.”

— IMPD Sergeant William Young

What’s next

IMPD is urging the person or people responsible for the shooting to come forward and take accountability. They're also calling on the community to work alongside police as they work to get justice.

The takeaway

This tragic shooting at a funeral service highlights the ongoing problem of gun violence in Indianapolis and the need for the community to come together to find solutions and promote peace, even in the face of such senseless acts of violence.