INDIANAPOLIS — A rash of violence over a four hour period in Indianapolis Tuesday left five people dead and one other person wounded.
The fourth incident happened just after 7 p.m. in the 3900 block of North Pasadena Avenue, near East 38th Street and North Arlington on the northeast side.
Two adults, a man and woman later identified as 23-year-old Austin Smith and 51-year-old Melissa Smith, were dead at the scene. A second woman was critically wounded.
"I was able to enter the residence and look at the scene," said IMPD Public Information Officer William Young. "It was very heart wrenching, know there was a child inside. We got three people injured, two dead. I've been a police officer for 15 years and it's the most horrendous crime scene I've ever seen before, it's disturbing."
Homicide detectives, already busy with three other fatal shootings since 3 p.m., converged on the scene, hoping to find witnesses who can shed some light on what led up to the incident.
Earlier, starting at 3 p.m., police were called to three additional homicide cases at these addresses:
- 2300 Hillside Avenue. At about 3 p.m. police responded to a shooting at this east side location. 60-year-old Johnny Purchase died, according to the Marion County Coroner's Office.
- 3915 Boulevard Place. A woman, later identified as 32-year-old Ashley Bell, was shot to death at about 3 p.m. on Boulevard Place, just north of West 38th Street near Crown Hill Cemetery.
- 4045 Stratford Court. One adult male, later identified as 28-year-old Jerrell Moten, was shot and killed at an apartment complex near East 42nd Street and North Post Road.
