Family seeks justice after deadly double shooting

 

SOUTH BEND, IND --- Police are investigating another deadly shooting over the weekend that claimed the lives of a young couple. One of victim’s parents told ABC57 they want justice for their son.

31-year-old Brandon Smith and 22-year-old ShaeLeigh Zeiger shot and killed around 2:45 am Sunday morning near Franklin Street and Ewing Avenue in South Bend.

The two young lives cut short by gun violence. Brandon Smith’s parents devastated by the tragedy, and told ABC57 their son didn’t deserve what happened to him.

“He loved everybody, he’d help anybody,” said Smith’s mother Belinda Holcomb.

“Our son was the kind of guy that would drop anything that he was doing to help anybody out at the drop of dime,” added his father Michael Smith.

The heartbroken parents and friends of Brandon Smith remembered the kindness of the young man who was shot and killed while with his girlfriend early Sunday morning.

“The world isn’t going to be any better without him,” said Holcomb as she held back tears.

“Him and Huey are together. Now they’re going to be side by side,” added Olivia Hudson, another heartbroken parent who lost her son last year.

Hudson, who’s a family friend of Smith’s also lost her son 29-year-old Huey Hudson Jr. to gun violence early 2020.

The latest tragedy over the weekend marked the city’s 19th deadly shooting in 2021 with advocates calling for an end to the violence.

“Let the spirit of the holiday be in your heart. And if you find yourself in a situation violence or it’s going to escalate to violence make the choice not make the choice not to commit violence. No family violence wants to go through violence, a death a murder, a shooting in over the holiday season. So let’s end the year in a peaceful way,” said Pastor Canneth Lee, the Director for Group Violence Intervention and South Bend city council.

Smith’s family pleaded for the person who pulled the trigger to come forward.

“No parent should have to bury their children, it should be the other way around. And the way these streets are right now that is not happening,” said Brandon’s father.

“I just want justice for my son,” added his mother.

No arrests have been made in the double homicide so far. If you have any information you’re urged to reach out to South Bend police or Michiana Crime Stoppers at  574-288-STOP.

If you’d like to donate to the fundraiser to help the Smith family click here.