Teen victim identified in fatal Indiana Avenue shooting

MISHAWAKA, Ind. --

The Mishawaka Police Department (MPD) has identified the victim as 17-year-old Takoda Simon Gallegos, of Vandalia, Mich.

The School City of Mishawaka also confirmed Gallegos was not a student in the Mishawaka school district.

Police said a juvenile suspect was identified, apprehended and is currently being held at the St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center.

MPD Sgt. Steve Headley said this situation shows another example of recent youth on youth violence in the community.

“You’ve got a generation that is coming up that, for some reason, a certain segment of it doesn’t value life… In this case we’ve got a young man that is dead and we’ve got another young man who, that if he is found guilty, is going to spend the bulk of the rest of his life behind bars,” said Headley.

Headley also expressed that MPD believes this is an isolated event and there is no current threat to the community.