Police reported that gunfire occurred Saturday night in downtown Indianapolis, where a large group had assembled, resulting in at least seven children aged between 12 and 17 sustaining wounds.
Indianapolis Authorities Respond To Sound of Gunfire in Downtown Shooting
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers heard a shooting around 11:30 p.m. local time near the Circle Centre Mall while on patrol.
Rushing to the location, they discovered a sizable group of juveniles, six of whom had gunshot injuries, as relayed by Indianapolis Police Deputy Chief Tanya Terry during a press briefing Sunday morning.
All injured children were transferred to local hospitals, with a seventh arriving later at an area hospital. Thankfully, Terry noted, all casualties are in stable condition.
Details encompassing the gunfire cause and the number of perpetrators remain ambiguous. As of Sunday morning, no suspects were in custody, and police suspect numerous firearms were included.
The location is presently under investigation, Terry stated, conveying deep concern over the number of young people affected by gun violence.
Although the nature of the assemblage was not disclosed by police, Terry voiced that officers had noticed sizable groups of youth moving around downtown in the evenings.
This marks the third successive weekend that Indianapolis police have responded to a mass shooting, prompting added police appearance downtown.
Police Calls for Parental Awareness of Their Children's Whereabouts
Terry highlighted the proactive measures taken by law enforcement, with over 25 officers patrolling the area on Saturday to prevent such incidents. She highlighted the significance of parental involvement in knowing their children's whereabouts, specifically during late hours, to avoid related circumstances.
"I think everybody sees the messages at 10 p.m., 'Parents, do you know where your children are?' And we would ask for parents to get involved in what their children are doing, especially at these hours of the evening," Terry stressed.
"This was at 11:30 at night, the evening right before Sunday Easter. So, if you don't know where your 12-year-old is, I think that should be a priority for you."
Bailey wondered during a news conference early Sunday that a commotion probably preceded the shooting, leading people to resort to gun violence as a means of resolving conflicts.
The gunfire happened at 11:36 p.m. local time near the Circle Centre Mall in the Mile Square entertainment district, several blocks away from the Indiana State Capitol building, police reported.
Terry noted that one casualty was originally in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable condition. The other casualties sustained non-life-threatening wounds and are also in stable condition. The casualties' ages range from 12 to 17.
Terry conveyed deep concern over the predominance of gun violence among young people and highlighted the need for parental involvement in monitoring their children's activities, especially during late hours.
Chief Bailey echoed Terry's sentiments, conveying disappointment over the continuing circumstances of mass violence in the city and stressing the significance of collective efforts to avoid such circumstances.
The gunfire happened a week after another circumstance where one person was killed and five others were injured, including a police officer, outside a bar east of downtown Indianapolis.
Additionally, two prior gunfires in February and March resulted in accidents and injuries, further displaying the seriousness of addressing gun violence in the city.
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