Two teens were killed and five others wounded after a mass shooting early Saturday morning in downtown Indianapolis. Police have not determined a motive but detained seven for questioning and recovered several firearms.
The Indianapolis Star reported that two boys, ages 16 and 15, were fatally struck at about 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of South Illinois and West Washington streets in downtown Indianapolis. The 16-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other boy died after being taken to a nearby hospital. Five other shooting victims were hospitalized.
Police found the victims while responding to a report of a fight at the same location. Two of the injured are 19-year-olds, the others are ages 16 and 17, while the fifth person injured is 21-years-old.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Chris Bailey said in a statement that the parents who allowed hundreds of teens to go unsupervised while out at night are partly to blame: “This kind of violence … is completely unacceptable and unnecessary We are not your children’s keepers. You are. Parents and guardians have got to step up.”
The mass shooting was among several violent incidents that occurred after the annual 4th of July fireworks, with Police Chief Bailey stating that police made 20 arrests during the night and recovered firearms from two juveniles in the downtown area before the mass shooting took place.
Editorial credit: EVA CARRE / Shutterstock.com
