INDIANAPOLIS — Two people are dead after they were shot in separate incidents less than two hours apart, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The first shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. Officers responded to the scene on the east side.
They learned a male and a female were shot at a different location but showed up in a car in the 5100 block of East. 38th Street. The man was transported to the hospital but was pronounced dead. The woman is in stable condition.
The man was identified as Randall Shields III, 24.
Police said Friday night that a third victim, a man was found in the 5200 block of Butler Terrace. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Police believe both of those incidents are related and all involved parties have been identified.
On Tuesday, IMPD announced that a 31-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the shootings. WRTV will not name the suspect unless formal charges are filed.
IMPD Officer William Young says he does not believe there is a threat to the area.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact Detective Dustin Keedy at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or by e-mail at Dustin.Keedy@indy.gov
Just before 5 p.m., a man was shot in the 2400 block of North Wheeler Street. He was found outside and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to IMPD.
He was identified as John Saulsberry Jr., 29.
IMPD Officer Samone Burris says one person is in custody in connection to the Wheeler Street shooting and at this time, police are not looking for additional suspects. That person's role in the shooting has not been determined.
"It's very unfortunate that our community consistently has to be faced with incidents like this time and time again. It's heartbreaking, it's upsetting, it is frustrating and I know that members of our community are frustrated with this level of violence. There's no reason, there's no logical reason for there to be 29 homicides in the month of October alone. It's not okay, it's not okay. Gun violence is not the answer; it will never be the answer," Burris said. "We can say it time and time again, but until people start heeding those words and people start putting those weapons down and resolving conflicts in a different way, we're going to continue to be on homicides."
Burris says at this time, there is no connection between the two shootings and they are being investigated as separate incidents.
"If you're in a situation where you feel like there's no resolution, walk away. Taking a life is not the answer, harming another individual in our city is not the answer," Burris said. "It's never okay."
Anyone with information about this incident should contact Detective Jesus Soria at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or by e-mail at Jesus.Soriajr@indy.gov .
