Downtown evening foot traffic turned chaotic Thursday when gunfire erupted just steps from Monument Circle, leaving one person in critical condition and police scrambling to lock down the scene.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were called around 6 p.m. to the 100 block of South Capitol Avenue near West Maryland Street after reports of shots fired. They arrived to find a person suffering from gunshot wounds and detained another person at the scene, according to investigators. Medics rushed the injured person to a hospital, where the victim remained in critical condition late Thursday. The investigation is ongoing, and police said no charges had been announced as of Thursday night.
What police say
According to WTHR, officers were called to the stretch of South Capitol Avenue just off Monument Circle after multiple reports of shots. The station reports that police found a victim with gunshot wounds and detained one person while crime scene technicians and detectives worked the area, documenting evidence and marking shell casings as commuters and visitors moved around the cordoned-off block.
How to report tips
Investigators are asking anyone who saw what happened, or who may have video from the area, to reach out. Police urged people with information to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477) or to submit an anonymous tip online at CrimeTips.org. Crime Stoppers accepts tips by phone, web, and mobile app and may offer cash rewards for information that leads to felony arrests.
Downtown response
As reported by WTHR, officers detained a person at the scene, though police have not said what role that individual may have played in the shooting. Detectives remained downtown into the evening, gathering physical evidence, canvassing nearby businesses, and preparing to review surveillance footage while they continued to interview witnesses.
Broader context
This latest shooting comes amid a recent stretch of violence in the downtown core. Earlier this week, an incident of overnight gunfire near Gainbridge Fieldhouse left multiple people wounded. Downtown district commanders have been pushing for stronger cooperation from bars and venues and wider access to private security camera networks as detectives search for both footage and witnesses in such cases.
Anyone with tips for detectives in Thursday’s shooting can call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475, per WRTV. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477) or via CrimeTips.org. This story will be updated as authorities release more information.
