The northeast side of Indianapolis is mourning the loss of 15‑year‑old Tre’Von “Trey” Riggins, whose life ended on the evening of March 28, 2026, after he was shot near a playground in the 3900 block of Rue Rabelais, part of an apartment complex near East 56th Street and Binford Boulevard. Police were called to the scene around 7:15 p.m., where they found the teen critically wounded. He was rushed toward a local hospital but died during transport, leaving his family and community devastated.
Riggins’ death struck especially hard because those closest to him say he had been working to turn his life around. His mother, Brandis Riggins, shared that he had been making steady progress in the months leading up to the shooting, focusing on school, self‑improvement, and healthier choices.
Family members and mentors echoed that sentiment, noting that Trey had always been bright, funny, and full of energy, even if he sometimes struggled with the influence of peers. His grandfather recalled conversations about responsibility, freedom, and the future, emphasizing that Trey had recently been asking for work and showing a desire to build something better for himself.
Trey’s path had not been easy. A few years earlier, he had run away from home and spent time on the streets, accumulating several police charges. In March 2025, he was arrested in connection with a shooting that injured a 17‑year‑old girl, one of five youths listed in the police report, the youngest only 10. That arrest became a turning point. He was enrolled in the NEW B.O.Y. mentorship program, where he began to reflect on his choices, recognize systemic and personal challenges, and commit to improving his grades and future prospects.
Mentors from the program said Trey had been making meaningful progress, finding healthier outlets and showing signs of maturity. His mother acknowledged that change takes time, but she believed he was becoming a better version of himself. Those close to him described a young man who wanted to do good, who wanted to be free in the right way, and who was beginning to understand what that required. His grandfather had even promised him work in the spring, a promise that now hangs painfully unfinished.
As police continue to investigate the shooting, the community is left grappling with the loss of a teenager who was trying to rise above his past. The playground where he was found has become a symbol of both his progress and the violence that cut his life short. For his family, mentors, and neighbors, Trey’s death is not just a statistic but a deeply personal tragedy, one that underscores the fragile line between hope and heartbreak in the lives of vulnerable youth.