Downtown shooting kills 2, injures 5; ‘hundreds of unsupervised kids’ a factor
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two teens died in a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis that capped off a night of violence after Fourth of July celebrations.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers say that — in addition to the deaths of a 15-year-old boy at the shooting scene and a 16-year-old boy later at a hospital — five people were injured in one mass shooting near Illinois and Washington streets below the Indianapolis Artsgarden, a dome used for gatherings that sits above the intersection.
The 15-year-old was identified by the Marion County Coroner’s Office as Azareaon Cole.
The 16-year-old victim’s family identified him as Xavion Jackson to News 8.
“He had a big heart, like he was always there for people, even if they not his own, he would be always there,” Ariez White, who is a friend of Xavion, said.
“Families are hurting. Kids don’t even get to see their life or experience nothing within their time,” Zechariah White, who was also friends with Xavion, said.
The five people injured — a 16-year-old, a 17-year-old, two 19-year-olds and a 21-year-old — were taken to a hospital.
Around 1:27 a.m. Saturday, IMPD officers responded to another incident at Washington and Meridian streets when they were alerted to the “disturbance” a block away. While the officers were making their way over, they heard multiple shots fired.
Several firearms were found at the scene, but investigators don’t know if those weapons were involved in the shooting.
Seven people were detained near the shooting, but police did not publicly share what their involvement may have been.
The shooting came after the Downtown Indy’s Fourth Festival, a gathering of thousands of people, food trucks and music performances capped off with a 20-minute fireworks display.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey spoke at the shooting scene early Saturday morning, saying the overnight violence was unacceptable for Indianapolis. “Thousands of people came downtown tonight, enjoyed the fireworks and went home. Thousands more chose to come down here and all night cause trouble,” he said.
He says that police officers were overwhelmed Friday night and early Saturday with different calls reporting violence across the city, including a shooting at a kayak put-in at Eagle Creek Park that left two men in critical condition.
In total, IMPD made more than 20 overnight arrests from calls of shootings and fights.
Just before 3 a.m. Saturday, IMPD officers responded to a double shooting on the east side of Indianapolis. IMPD said, at the 300 block of Peach Tree Lane, near East Washington Street and I-465, two people were shot. They were last listed in stable condition.
At 6:20 a.m. Saturday, a person walked in to Eskanazi Hospital with a gunshot wound. That person was last reported to be in stable condition, but IMPD has not yet publicly shared where that shooting may have happened.
“I’m tired of it. You should be tired of it,” Bailey said.
One common factor in the violence was that “hundreds of unsupervised kids” were involved in violent incidents, 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,” Bailey said. “A kid is dead tonight.”
Later on in the day on Saturday, Bailey gave an update to media.
During the update, Bailey pledged to add new cameras in strategic locations downtown and to increase police presence in the area, along with state officers. Authorities also plan to issue stay away orders for violent or repeat offenders, in hopes of preventing those already in trouble from going to hot spots downtown.
They’re also renewing efforts to enforce their juvenile curfew.
People like Aaron Green, with “Struggle Made Us,” works to combat crimes from young people. He says they need more safe places to go.
“We can find outlets to give them things to do because these kids don’t have anything to do,” Green said. “So, we’re telling them not to go in different places where everybody is going, but there’s really no safe spaces for them to go where they can kind of be themselves and have fun.”
Anyone with information was asked to call IMPD Detective Michal Dinnsen at 317-327-3475 or e-mail the detective at michal.dinnsen@indy.gov.
News 8’s Kyla Russell and Gregg Montgomery contributed to this report.