Tonya Lewis didn’t always like the nickname her son gave her, “Momdukes.”
But as Dontae Lewis used it lovingly over the years, she said it became an honorific. She called him “Son-shine” because of his smile and sense of humor.
Dontae Anthony Lewis would have turned 30 on July 15, 2025. His family canceled his birthday trip to Miami after learning their family-first father of two was shot and killed on July 5 near Ensign Graham Edward Martin Park. Instead, his close family is having a cookout to mark his birthday.
His death put him among at least 30 people who were shot over the Fourth of July weekend.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police have not announced any arrests or suspects in the shooting, which was initially reported as possibly self-inflicted in a release sent to the media. The Marion County Coroner’s Office on July 7 declared the manner of death as homicide.
The shooting in a parking lot near playground equipment at the intersection of West 13th Street and Fall Creek Parkway East Drive has left the family with more questions than answers.
Dontae Lewis didn’t hang around dangerous crowds, his mom said. The community loved him, she said. Over 150 gathered in a park in his memory on Saturday.
His world revolved around his family, spending time with his kids, and taking them to parks and indoor playgrounds.
“He was a great parent,” she said. “If you’ve seen him, you’ve seen his kids.”
Dontae Lewis had three sisters and would call his mom in the morning. She would call him at night, she said.
Dontae Lewis had a few jobs, his mom said, but had found stable work as a forklift operator. He worked hard and earned the respect of his boss, his mom said.
Outside of work, Dontae Lewis loved to travel – especially toward the water. He took any opportunity he could to go snorkeling, get on a boat or ride around on a jet ski, his mother said.
The family has been struggling with the lack of information about how or why Dontae Lewis was killed, his mom said. She wants to reach out to police every minute for updates, but knows she has to be patient.
She said the other night she saw her son in a dream, smiling down at her with his characteristic, lovable grin.
“You messing with your Momdukes?” she said as she woke up, feeling comforted for the first time since his death.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: ‘Son-shine’: Mother remembers son killed in mysterious shooting
Reporting by Matthew Cupelli, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
