Indy police to enforce youth curfew, add patrols after deadly downtown shooting

A mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday left two juveniles dead and five others injured, prompting city officials to pledge new security measures and stricter enforcement of youth curfew laws.

The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of West Market and North Illinois streets, just hours after thousands gathered to watch Fourth of July fireworks.

Later that day, Mayor Joe Hogsett and Chief of Police Christopher Bailey said the city would take immediate steps to prevent further violence. 

“This violence does not reflect the city we love or the communities we serve,” Bailey said in a statement. “We are better than this.”

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department plans to increase enforcement of the city’s youth curfew laws, which prohibit: Youth ages 15 to 17 from being in public between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, after 11 p.m. on Sunday to Thursday, and before 5 a.m. on Monday to Friday. Children under 15 from being in public after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day.

Bailey said compliance begins at home and urged guardians to take a more active role in keeping minors accounted for after hours.

“Any kind of curfew enforcement needs to be based in help and not punishment,” Bailey said.

He added that IMPD is working with the Office of Public Health and Safety to establish a process for handling increased curfew detentions.

Additional measures include:
• Increasing the number of officers downtown, in partnership with the Indiana State Police.
• Working with the City-County Council to update regulations on food trucks and late-night street vendors.
• Coordinating with downtown property owners to improve accountability.

Mayor Hogsett called the violence “absolutely unacceptable” and said his office will support active curfew enforcement.

“The community must come together as one to make a difference in the lives of our young people,” Hogsett said.

Contact WFYI Digital Producer and Reporter Jeremy Reuben at jreuben@wfyi.org.