Accident – Death – Obituary News :

The Christmas Decorations Are Still Up at Desmen Wilson’s Apartment, But He Didn’t Get to Celebrate This Year

Desmen Wilson, a 26-year-old resident of Indianapolis, woke up to a series of missed calls and text messages from his older brother on the morning of December 25th. Unaware of the tragedy that awaited him, Wilson finally answered the phone, only to hear the devastating news.

“She’s gone,” Wilson’s older brother told him.

In a state of shock, Wilson rushed to a home on East 52nd Place, located on the northeast side of Indianapolis. As he arrived, he was met with a grim scene – crime scene tape, police cars, and his weeping mother. His sister, Shania Shaw, had been shot and killed. Her lifeless body lay covered on the ground.

“Nobody wants to spend Christmas like that, losing a sibling,” Wilson lamented. “As a sister, she was my best friend. We would confide in each other and share our secrets. We were incredibly close.”

Shaw, 24, was a single mother to two young children. Described as bubbly and thoughtful, Shaw had a bright future ahead of her. Tragically, police believe she was shot and killed by the father of her children, according to court documents. The news sent shockwaves through the community.

“You just hope that she receives the justice she deserves,” said Shaw’s cousin, Tomorrow Rose. “It’s important for us, as friends and family, to continue reaching out to people who may be going through difficult times and encourage them to speak out.”

Rose, who has a background in social work, has witnessed the devastating effects of domestic violence on numerous occasions. She fondly remembers Shaw’s exceptional skills as a mother.

“Being a single mother is tough, but she handled it with grace and strength,” Rose recalled. “Nia devoted a lot of time to her children, and you can see the impact in how intelligent they are and how well they interact with others.”

Shaw’s children, both under the age of 2, are now under the care of their grandmother, who is working towards obtaining full custody.

The Christmas Morning Shooting

Shortly after Shaw’s murder, the police announced the arrest of 24-year-old Sir Brown Jr. in connection with her death. Brown now faces charges of murder, attempted residential entry, domestic battery, and unlawful carrying of a handgun, as stated in court records.

Authorities were called to the 6600 block of East 52nd Place around 5:15 a.m. on reports of a disturbance with gunshots. Upon arrival, Shaw was pronounced dead by medics, and investigators discovered a bullet, shell casings, and her scattered belongings on the ground.

Brown’s father, the owner of the home, informed the police that he had video footage of the shooting, according to the probable cause affidavit for his son’s arrest.

According to Brown’s father, Shaw and Brown had dropped off their children before heading out to Broad Ripple. They returned to the home around 4 a.m. and engaged in a heated argument outside. The situation escalated, and Brown began physically assaulting Shaw, who was already on the ground. Brown’s father intervened, leading to a physical altercation between father and son.

Threatening to harm himself, Brown’s father retreated inside the house and locked the door. He then heard gunshots, as Brown desperately tried to break into the house by kicking and shooting at the door, as revealed in the affidavit. Home surveillance footage captured Shaw’s desperate cries for help before she was shot.

Later that day, Brown turned himself in to the police at the City-County Building in downtown Indianapolis. As of now, no attorney for Brown has been listed in online court records, and a status hearing in his case is scheduled for January 17th.

“I Haven’t Let Her Go”

When Wilson reminisces about his sister, he fondly recalls their shared childhood experiences at the Indianapolis Baptist Temple. Every Sunday, they would be picked up by a van for services, and on Wednesdays, they attended Bible studies. One summer, they even went to church camp and stayed in college dorms in Cincinnati.

“She had such a joyful spirit,” Wilson reflected. “She was incredibly easy to get along with.”

Shaw, the youngest of her three siblings, attended Broad Ripple High School. A few days following her tragic death, friends from high school and relatives from different cities and states gathered to honor the memory of the young mother.

“It still doesn’t seem real,” Wilson said. “I haven’t let her go.”

Shaw was employed at Floor & Decor and was considered the princess of her family. In her memory, her loved ones plan to bury her in the bright pink dress she wore to prom.

“She looked absolutely beautiful in that dress,” Rose remarked. “She was a truly beautiful person. I wish I had spent more time with her. To know her was to love her.”

In order to cover the costs of Shaw’s funeral and burial, her family has set up a GoFundMe page.

“I don’t think anyone has fully come to terms with it,” Wilson admitted. “It’s still a fresh wound that hurts everyone to some extent. My mom is particularly devastated because, obviously, she lost a child. There’s no greater pain in this world.”

Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19.

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