A suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with a 2021 homicide case out of South Bend.

In the early morning hours of September 12, 2021, South Bend Police responded to a shooting in the 800 block of E. Washington Street. Upon arrival, officers located 24-year-old Montell O’Neal, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit launched an investigation, which was later handed over to the South Bend Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit. The Violent Crimes Unit continued to work the investigation and exhaust every effort to generate new leads, including collaborating with Michiana Crime Stoppers in hopes of furthering community involvement.

Efforts during the past year-and-a-half led to an interview on June 27, between Violent Crimes Unit detectives and the suspect, 25-year-old Javante Walker, who admitted to shooting O’Neal several times before leaving a house party in the 800 block of E. Washington Street.

As a result, through a collaboration with the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office, Walker was charged on Wednesday, June 28, with Murder and a Firearm Enhancement.

Walker has been arrested and is currently being held in the St. Joseph County Jail.