Officials Address Violent Weekend In Indianapolis

Seven people, including a child, lost their lives to violence in Indianapolis over the weekend.

Law enforcement held a press conference Monday morning shortly after another person was killed at a hotel.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor said two of this weekend's events involved domestic violence.

"We can not afford to become a community afraid to ask or seek help when we need it. Domestic violence is real,” Taylor said.

A domestic incident Saturday night resulted in the deaths of three adults and a seven year old girl.  After an amber alert, police were able to recover an infant that was taken from the scene.

Two suspects are in custody, including the man accused in the mass shooting.

Taylor said progress has to come through partnership.

“As I’ve said numerous times before, I believe the solution to the violence in our community is working together,” Taylor said. “That means the police, the community, the prosecutor's office and the court system.”

Taylor said the other incidents were the result of individual’s inability to resolve conflict without guns.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett responded to the violence with a written statement.

“Over the last year, we’ve seen far too many tragedies occur when the proliferation of guns has collided with interpersonal conflict. These challenges are not just threats to our public safety, but the well-being of our community,” Hogsett said. “I remain committed to locking arms with neighborhood and religious leaders to address these generational dilemmas.”

Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police President Rick Snyder responded to this weekend’s incidents in an email.

“When it comes to Indy’s Violence it is NOT a proliferation of guns from last year that has caused the violence, but a proliferation of criminals who have no fear of consequences due to a broken system of criminal justice that cycles repeat convicted offenders back into our neighborhoods,” Snyder said.

At least a dozen more people were injured from shootings or stabbings.