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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has learned the victim of one of South Bend’s latest shooting homicides was an alleged 23-year-old gang member who had been in and out of jail for gun and drug charges eight times in just four years. However, the longest stint he had ever spent in jail was just a 90 day sentence in 2021. And, despite repeated violations of probation, was allowed to roam the streets until his untimely death earlier this month, instead of being safely held in custody where he would be receiving pushishment for his crimes and rehabilitative services.
Police found 23-year-old James Tyler Stewart dead in a car near the intersection of Brookfield Street and Fassnacht Avenue on February 1st of this year. According to reports, he had been shot multiple times.
Court records show Stewart was part of an investigation by the South Bend Police Department’s Group Violence Intervention unit for his involvement in the Westside KBO (Kaley Block Official) gang. According to court filings from July 20th, 2020 (which can be read below), Stewart and the Westside KBO gang were targeted by the SBPD GVI “due to its members participating in a significant number of acts of gun violence.” Despite the court having the above information, Stewart was allowed out of jail the very next day on a $400 cash bond.
In April of 2021, Stewart was convicted of gun and drug charges and sentenced to just three months in jail. Then, between June of 2022, and August of 2023, he was arrested on gun charges four more times. Despite still being on probation for the previous convictions, Stewart was allowed out of jail after each arrest.
Below is a breakdown of every time Stewart had been booked into the St. Joseph County Jail.
Jan 3rd, 2020: Arrested on gun charges — released the next day on $200 cash bond.
July 17th, 2020: Arrested on gun charges and resisting law enforcement.
November 19th, 2020: Arrested on drug, gun and resisting charges.
April 22nd, 2021: Sentenced to three months and prison and two years of probation.
June 10th, 2022: Arrested on gun charges.
January 13th, 2023: Arrested on gun charges.
February 1st 2023: Arrested on gun charges.
August 30th, 2023: Arrested on gun charges.
At the time of his death, Stewart had a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear.
According to his obituary, Stewart leaves behind two children.
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James Stewart? His great grandpappy was amazing in It’s A Wonderful Life.