'His life was not in vain': Indianapolis Peacemaker dies in shooting on North Keystone

Indianapolis Star

A man fatally shot Saturday was later identified as an outreach worker looking to reduce violence in the city.

John "JB" Barnett, 45, died Saturday after police were dispatched to the city's northeast side on report of a person shot around 10 p.m. Police arrived at a gas station near the 3400 block of North Keystone and found a man in critical condition. After being transported to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Barnett wanted to give back to the community, according to a Twitter post from the Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety, which runs the peacemaker program. The program was created as a response to violence in the city. Peacemakers aim to identify people at-risk of violence and connect them to services.

Though he was working as a peacemaker the night before he died, Barnett was not responding to a scene when he was fatally injured, OPHS Director Lauren Rodriguez said.

Donning a red hat, John "JB" Barnett, 45, is shown here at a recent Safe Summer program. Barnett died June 25, 2022 after police were dispatched to the city's northeast side on report of a person shot around 10 p.m. After being transported to the hospital, Barnett was pronounced dead.

OPHS is working to find the root issues behind violent crime, but this is not something that will slow their work down, it's "recognition that this could happen to anybody, including the people that are actively trying to prevent it and stop it from happening," Rodriguez said.

OPHS said Barnett will be remembered for his comedy, joy and dedication.

"Too often we talk about problems without talking about solutions," OPHS said in a Twitter post. "JB was a solution. His life is not in vain because he changed our city for the better."

Police have not released additional information about the case.

Anyone with information about this shooting should contact IMPD Detective Larry Craciunoiu at 317-327-3475 or Larry.Craciunoiu@indy.gov. People with information can also submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.

Bolstered by federal rescue plan funds, OPHS has created several initiatives during the past three-plus years to curb violence, notably hiring peacemakers to carry out anti-violence programs. Peacemakers do everything from interrupting altercations before they turn violent, helping kids during Safe Summer programs to attending crime scenes and remaining in the background.

The peacemakers program was launched in response to growing gun violence and killings and has expanded to about 50 participants as of June 9.

At an OPHS staff meeting Sunday there was a consensus that Barnett's death would be turned into something good, Rodriguez said.

"It's important to highlight not only the work that he did do, but the work we will continue to do in his legacy and in his memory," said Dane Nutty, executive director of the Indy Public Safety Foundation.

As of Monday morning the city had experienced 103 criminal homicides, which is 10 fewer than at the same point last year, according to Indianapolis police. Criminal homicides do not include those deemed accidental or justified, such as self defense killings.

BY THE NUMBERS

Indianapolis nonfatal shootings between Jan. 1 and June 24 for each year -

2022: 277 shootings; 324 people shot
2021: 318 shootings; 358 people shot
2020: 240 shootings; 262 people shot
2019: 207 shootings; 244 people shot
2018: 210 shootings; 225 people shot

Source: IMPD

This article will update.

Contact Hannah Brock at hannah.brock@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter @hannah_m_brock.