Teen killed in hit-and-run in Mishawaka, suspect in custody

A suspect is in custody after a 16-year-old boy died as a result of a hit-and-run accident in Crawford Park Friday.

Late Friday evening, just after 10:30 p.m., the Mishawaka Police Department responded to an accident injury at Crawford Park.

Upon arrival, Troy Mapes, 16, was found unresponsive on the ground after an apparent hit-and-run accident.

According to police, Mapes was transported with critical injuries to Memorial Hospital in South Bend. He died overnight in the hospital as a result of those injuries. 

His mother, Beth Mapes, took to Facebook Saturday morning posting a heartfelt message begging for anyone with information about the deadly accident to come forward. By Saturday afternoon, the status had been shared nearly 2,500 times. 

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit was at the park overnight investigating the scene, which included tire tracks that went from a parking lot, across the park and onto nearby Niles Avenue, where the suspected vehicle seemed to have fled. 

Just after 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon, Metro Homicide announced that 20-year-old Zachary Anderson of Granger was arrested and is being held in the St. Joseph County Jail on preliminary charges of voluntary manslaughter, with more formal charges expected next week. 

Beth Mapes took to Facebook again, Saturday afternoon, simply saying, "They found who killed my son!"

Metro Homicide said evidence from the scene indicates Mapes was traveling on foot when the vehicle struck him, but a motive has not yet been released. 

Along with the tire tracks still imprinted on the park's grounds Saturday afternoon, a small memorial of flowers and a candle sat at a nearby tree.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the Mapes family -- a link to it can be found here. 

The investigation is on-going pending further witness interviews and evaluation of forensic evidence, according to Metro Homicide.

An autopsy will be conducted on Monday morning at the Western Michigan University Stryker School of Medicine in Kalamazoo, Michigan.