Woman found shot, killed on south side
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — IMPD officers are searching for a male suspect they believe shot and killed a young woman on the city’s south side Wednesday morning.
Police originally responded to an apartment complex parking lot in the 1300 block of South Senate Avenue, following reports of shots fired just before 8:20 a.m.
Upon arrival, officers say they discovered a woman with a gunshot wound sitting in the driver’s seat of a black Ford Mustang.
“Medics tried feverishly to save her life. Unfortunately, she perished at the scene,” said Maj. Richard Riddle from IMPD.
Major Riddle said several witnesses came forward, and IMPD determined the incident began with a domestic dispute between a man and the young woman. They report the woman got in the car and the man opened fire, hitting her at least once. The male suspect then fled the scene.
Officers also investigated what looked like a car accident in the parking lot. The front hood of the black Mustang where the woman was found shot was wedged underneath the rear of a grey Volvo. Major Riddle explained the IMPD’s assumption of that situation.
“We believe the female was sitting inside the vehicle when the male suspect shot her. She then either hit the gas or attempted to flee, and due to her injuries she did crash into the vehicle,” he said.
IMPD is not releasing the description of the male suspect, but say a search is underway.
Neighbors who spoke to 24-Hour News 8 had one message for him.
“Just know we’ll be watching out for you. Don’t come back to this neighborhood. Don’t come back to this neighborhood,” said Dezarae Hargis, a mother of four who lives in a home near the apartment complex. She says she came home and discovered her backyard had become a murder scene.
“It’s just terrifying. Our first thought is we’ve gotta move,” she said. “My kids play in that parking lot. They ride their bikes and scooters and skates back there. That’s scary.”
When she learned the situation stemmed from a verbal argument, she said domestic abuse and domestic violence need to be stopped.
“Somebody is just going to whip out a gun and shoot somebody over a fight? Get away. Calm down,” Hargis said. “There’s no need to shoot somebody and take their life and ruin so many other lives over a fight. An argument.”
IMPD officers say the investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information that may help police, please call Crime Stoppers anonymously, 24 hours a day, at 317-262-TIPS.