A person suffering from gunshot wounds walked into Community Hospital East on Indianapolis’ east side early Saturday and later died in the emergency room, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Detectives are now trying to piece together where the shooting happened and whether the victim is tied to a nearby crime scene that officers were already probing.
Officers were alerted sometime around 6 a.m. that a shooting victim had arrived at Community Hospital East and was pronounced dead there, according to WIBC. Investigators told the station they believe the person may have been shot near South Spencer Avenue and East Washington Street. Around the same time, officers were working a reported shooting in the 600 block of South Spencer Avenue, although police have not confirmed that scene is connected to the victim who showed up at the hospital.
Where the victim was taken
Community Hospital East is part of Community Health Network and lists its emergency department at 1500 North Ritter Ave., with the ER entrance off 16th Street, according to Community Health Network. The hospital notes that its emergency department is open 24/7 for walk-in emergencies and that it handles trauma and other critical cases, which often puts it on the front line of incidents like Saturday’s shooting.
Investigation underway
IMPD has released few details about the victim or any possible motive, and the case remains under active investigation, according to WIBC. Detectives have not yet said whether the person who died at Community Hospital East is the same individual connected to the South Spencer Avenue scene. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's investigative units.
A familiar pattern
Walk-in shooting victims who bypass 911 and head straight to emergency rooms are a recurring challenge for Indianapolis detectives. Local coverage has previously highlighted cases where gunshot victims arrived at Community Hospital East while police were working what initially appeared to be separate shooting scenes, according to WRTV. Investigators say that pattern can complicate the basic timeline of a case and slow down evidence collection as they scramble to lock down crime scenes and track down witnesses.
