Seven minors, including a 12-year-old, sustained injuries during a shooting outside a mall in downtown Indianapolis late Saturday night, marking the third consecutive weekend city police have responded to such incidents.
Despite a heightened police presence with over 25 officers patrolling downtown Indianapolis to control juvenile groups, the violence erupted, as stated by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey.
He mentioned during a news conference early Sunday that the incident likely stemmed from a disturbance, leading someone or some individuals to resort to gun violence, which he emphasized is never the right solution.
The shooting occurred at 11:36 p.m. local time outside the Circle Centre Mall at the intersection of West Maryland and South Illinois streets in the Mile Square entertainment district, several blocks from the Indiana State Capitol building, according to police reports.
Responding officers heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene, finding six young victims with apparent gunshot wounds, according to Deputy Chief Tanya Terry, head of IMPD operations.
Another juvenile victim later arrived at a hospital seeking treatment for a bullet wound.
Terry mentioned that one victim was initially in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable condition, with the other victims suffering non-life-threatening injuries and all currently in stable condition.
The victims' ages range from 12 to 17, Terry stated.
As of Sunday afternoon, no suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been announced.
The police department's Aggravated Assault Unit is urging anyone who witnessed the shooting to come forward with information.
Investigators are reviewing security footage to identify those responsible for the incident, police stated.
Terry expressed deep concern over the high number of young people affected by gun violence and emphasized the need to address conflicts without resorting to firearms.
Before the shooting, IMPD had increased police presence in the Mile Square area to monitor large groups of juveniles in the downtown vicinity. Terry explained that unless a crime is committed, officers can only observe the crowds and attempt to disperse them.
Terry also had a message for the parents of the victims, urging them to be aware of their children's activities, especially during late hours. Chief Bailey echoed Terry's sentiments, calling for collective efforts to prevent such incidents and emphasizing the role of families in addressing the issue.
The shooting follows a similar incident a week earlier, where one person was killed and five others, including a police officer, were wounded in an early morning shooting outside a bar east of downtown Indianapolis.
Two uniformed officers, working as security at the bar, engaged in a gunfight with the suspect, who was killed.
On March 16, an early morning shooting inside a bar north of downtown left one man dead and six others wounded. A suspect was arrested and charged with murder in that incident.
Another shooting on Feb. 19 at a Waffle House restaurant west of downtown resulted in one fatality and four others wounded during an argument between customers. No arrests have been made in that case.