INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis woman is sharing her thoughts publicly after a gun was pointed at her during a carjacking on her way to work on Tuesday.
That carjacking, in the 2800 block of Post Road, eventually led to an officer-involved shooting in which 20-year-old Jerrett Gray Jr. was killed.
That woman, who asked to remain anonymous for her own safety, says she was on her way to work at 8 a.m. when she was approached.
"A guy with a ski mask walked up to my window and said, 'Give me everything you got,'" the woman said. "He put a gun to my belly and said, 'Give me everything.'"
She says when the gun was pointed at her, she decided to give him everything.
Later that day, IMPD officers were involved in a shooting in the 9100 block of Cavalier Court with one of the alleged suspects. That suspect, Gray Jr., died at a local hospital from the shooting.
A second suspect was eventually located and arrested along with another man and a 17-year-old.
"The first thing I thought (when he put the gun to my stomach) was my daughter," the woman said. "This is the gas station I take my daughter to. She'd usually be in the car seat on the way to school. Thank God school ended. They would've taken my daughter."
She says her message to others is to just stay aware and be careful.
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"You got to be careful out here," the woman said. "I checked my surroundings and it was suspicious, but I didn't know it was for me. The minute they saw others leaving, they took action."
IMPD provided the following numbers for carjackings:
- 2024 YTD (Ending 5/28/24): 73
- 2023 Total: 224 (Comparison 2023 YTD: 78)
- 2022 Total: 216 (Comparison 2022 YTD: 76)
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IMPD recommends community members protect themselves against carjackings by doing the following:
- We encourage community members to remember to lock their vehicles, and to not leave vehicles running and unattended while pumping fuel, going into a store, etc.
- We encourage community members to ensure they do not leave valuables within their vehicles when they leave vehicles parked.
- We encourage community members to stay on main roadways, travel in well-lit areas, and if they think they are being followed, to call 911 and provide information to dispatch, and go to a well-lit location where there would be other community members if they have to stop.
- We encourage community members to always contact the police if they believe they may have information in which they may have information in relation to a crime that may occurred.
