One man is dead and another is in critical condition after gunfire tore through a Conoco gas station on Indianapolis' near east side late Tuesday, leaving detectives to piece together two linked crime scenes and a tense night for nearby residents.
What happened
IMPD says officers were called to the Conoco near 10th Street and Emerson Avenue around 10:25 p.m. Medics rushed a shooting victim from the station to a local hospital, where he later died, according to FOX59. A short time later, officers found a second person with apparent gunshot wounds in a wrecked vehicle at 10th Street and College Avenue. That victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition, and investigators told the outlet their preliminary work ties the two scenes together.
Scene and timeline
Detectives and crime-scene technicians spent the night combing through both locations, marking shell casings and documenting the damaged vehicle. WRTV reports that investigators believe the person found at 10th and College was wounded in the same shooting that unfolded at the gas station. The station and intersection were temporarily shut down while officers collected evidence and spoke with possible witnesses.
Authorities have not released the names of either victim, and no suspect information had been made public as of early Wednesday as the investigation continued.
Police response
IMPD investigators at the scene told reporters they believe the shooting started as some kind of disturbance between the two men and that both fired shots during the confrontation, according to FOX59. Police stressed that, based on what they know so far, the gunfire appears to be contained to that dispute and "does not pose an ongoing threat to the community."
Richard Ray, the city official speaking with reporters, noted the hectic backdrop to the night's violence, saying, "It's somewhat of a holiday for our city and also election day, so, yes, things are a little busy." Even with the packed call log, he said, IMPD has been able to respond to incidents across the city and will share more as homicide detectives firm up the timeline and motive.
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477, per anonymous tips and video footage. Officers say bystander videos and even small details from witnesses can be crucial in confirming what led up to the shooting.
Local context
The deadly confrontation is the latest in a stretch of near east side violence that has had both residents and first responders on edge, with local outlets chronicling several recent shootings at gas stations and busy intersections. Community leaders and police continue to push for more tips and more footage from the public as detectives work to build their case, WRTV reports.
IMPD's homicide detectives are still investigating and ask anyone who may know something to call the department. Hoodline will update this story if police release additional details.
