Elkhart County Community to Hold Candlelight Vigil for Tragic Loss of 2-Year-Old Jaxon Snyder

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ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. — The heartbroken community of Baugo Township will come together on Tuesday night to honor the life of Jaxon Snyder, a 2-year-old boy who was tragically found dead following an 18-hour standoff with police.

The standoff began late Saturday night when deputies responded to a welfare check at a home on Pendleton Drive. The man inside, identified as 37-year-old Ryan Snyder, was reportedly armed and threatening to harm his children and law enforcement officers. Despite hours of negotiations involving the Elkhart County Regional SWAT and Indiana State Police SWAT teams, the situation ended in tragedy.

SWAT officers entered the home around 3:30 p.m. Sunday and took Snyder into custody. Inside, they discovered the lifeless body of young Jaxon Snyder and found a 4-year-old girl who was treated on the scene and later released to a relative. Snyder has since been booked into the Elkhart County Jail on a preliminary murder charge.

This devastating incident has left the community reeling. In response, neighbors will gather at 6:30 p.m. in front of the home where the standoff occurred to hold a candlelight vigil in Jaxon’s memory. Residents are encouraged to bring candles or any items they wish to leave as tributes to honor Jaxon’s short but cherished life. Some neighbors will also change their porch lights to blue as a sign of remembrance and solidarity.

This vigil represents a collective effort to support one another and to commemorate the innocent life lost under such tragic circumstances. It is a poignant reminder of the strength and compassion within the community as they navigate this profound loss together.