IMPD: Violent, 'exhausting' weekend as 7 killed, more shot

Seven people were killed and others shot during the first exceptionally warm weekend of the year, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. 

Police reported shooting deaths took place from early Friday evening until Sunday afternoon when a man is believed to have shot dead two people in a Westside home before he killed himself.

An eighth individual was killed Monday morning, bringing the total number of intentional homicides this year to 64. This is below the same point in 2021 when police recorded 76 intentional homicides or "murders." Indianapolis had a record-breaking 249 intentional homicides last year. 

“We recognize the impact this weekend’s violence has on victims, their families, our community, and the officers who responded to these tragic incidents," IMPD said in a statement. "As a community, we are better than resorting to violence to resolve conflict or committing unprovoked acts of violence.

"We must be better, for our families, our community and our future. But we cannot do it alone. Police cannot do it alone.  It will take each one of us, working together to stop this senseless violence."

IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said he feels discouraged by the past weekend's homicide numbers. 

"Our numbers had been going down, and they're still trending down, but whenever you have a weekend like this where you have, eight people that are killed, it's certainly disheartening. Especially because none of these people had to die," he said. 

IMPD asks anyone with information about any homicides or other shootings to contact detectives at 317-327-3475 or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.

"If you've seen something, please don't hesitate to tell us what you've seen. If you know that people are going down those wrong paths, don't wait till they make the mistake. Get them some help, try and reach in there," Taylor said.

Investigations into these shootings are ongoing as of Sunday evening, police said.

Sunday shootings

• A double homicide and a suicide took place in the Westside neighborhood of Chapel Hill-Ben Davis, according to preliminary information released by IMPD. Police responded to a call of shots fired around 2:20 p.m. at a house in the 1700 block of Countryside Drive where a man barricaded himself inside. Later SWAT officers made entry into the home and found three bodies.
• A person was shot in the 3700 block of Hillside Avenue in the Meadows neighborhood, police said. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
• Two people who suffered gunshot wounds were found dead outside in the 4000 block of Stratford Court on the Far Eastside, police said. No additional information was released.
• Police responded to a report of a shooting on the Far EastSide outside in the 4000 block of Alsace Place around 1:25 a.m. where they found a man who appeared to have been shot. The man was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. 
• Two people were shot near the intersection of Broad Ripple and Guilford avenues, police said. Police say both are in stable condition.
• One person was shot in the 6800 block of East 21st Street. 

Saturday and Friday shootings

• A man was found shot inside a business in the 1900 block of N. College Ave. just after 7:40 p.m. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
• Police responded to a report of a person who arrived at Methodist Hospital after being shot. The victim was reported to be in stable condition. Police said they were trying to locate a crime scene.
• Two people were shot in the 3800 block of North Emerson Avenue in the Arlington Woods neighborhood. Police said their condition was unknown.
• On Friday, just after 5:20 p.m., police responded to a report of a man shot in the 3300 block of West Saint Clair Street in the Near Westside neighborhood. The man was transported to a nearby hospital where he died shortly after his arrival. 

The sudden spike in homcides was described as "exhausting" by IMPD Deputy Police Chief Kendale Adams.

This weekend has been exhausting for our first responders, and our community, particularly our @IMPDnews homicide and aggravated assault detectives. Thinking of those survivors impacted by senseless violence. @IFD_NEWS @IndianapolisEMS @IMPDNorth @IMPDEast @impdsouthwest

— Kendale Adams (@IMPD_DCAdams) April 24, 2022

Last year $295 million was allocated for IMPD in the 2022 city budget. The record funding includes money for new technology and more officers for community patrols.

WFYI Criminal Justice Reporter Katrina Pross contributed to this report.