INDIANAPOLIS – Residents are seeking answers following a downtown mass shooting early Saturday that resulted in two fatalities and injuries to five others. Police were dispatched to the junction of West Market and North Illinois Street in Indianapolis shortly after 1:45 a.m.
After extensive investigation, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) verified that three adults and three minors were among the shooting victims. One victim lost their life at the location, while a juvenile succumbed to injuries later in the hospital. Authorities mentioned an additional person was injured but didn’t specify whether it was an adult or a minor.
The mass shooting happened hours after people all across the city celebrated July 4th, with fireworks happening just blocks away in downtown Indy.
At the location, officers confiscated several firearms and took several people into custody for interrogation. Investigators continue to work on determining the connection of the seized weapons and those detained to the shooting incident.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey called on parents and guardians to “step up” after officers made at least 20 arrests before the downtown shooting took place. Of the arrests made, officers found guns on two kids, one of whom was carrying an assault rifle, according to police.
“Hundreds of unsupervised kids down here,” Bailey said. “I don’t know how many times I have to say it. We are not your children’s keepers. You are! Parents and guardians have got to step up. A kid is dead tonight, and we just don’t know the age of the young man down the street still here, dead. He looks young.”
Bailey said he will work with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to see if there is a way to hold parents accountable for their children’s actions.
“If I can convince the prosecutor to hold the parents accountable, I’m going to do that too,” Bailey said. “There has to be more than what just are the police doing.”
This is a developing story. It will be updated when new information has been made available.
