INDIANAPOLIS — It's been nearly a month since an 8-year-old Indianapolis boy was shot and killed inside his home and detectives are hoping someone will come forward with new information that will help them find the person responsible for firing the shot that killed him.
Rodgerick Payne Jr. was shot and killed by what police believe was a stray bullet that entered his home in the 3200 block of N. Tacoma Avenue on March 31, 2020.
Very few details have been released about the shooting that led to Rodgerick's death, but Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Detective Chris Edwards said they know the bullet that hit him came from outside of his home.
"He was in the process of finishing his dinner. He was in his own living room when a bullet passed through one of the windows of his house and struck him," Edwards said. "He wasn't out doing things he wasn't supposed to be doing. He was eating dinner in his own home and did absolutely nothing to bring this upon himself."
Edwards said family members have described Rodgerick as an "average 8-year-old boy."
"He liked to read, he liked to ride his bike. He liked to color. I also understand he was a very talented young man," Edward said. "Last year he won his school's talent show and he also was a regular in his church's choir."
Detectives have said they are unsure who the target was that night, but they know several shots were fired in the area. At least one of those shots went through a window and struck Rodgerick.
They believe the person who was the intended target may hold the key to finding Rodgerick's killer.
"We believe there are people out there who absolutely know the details about what happened. We need those people to come forward," Edwards said. ""At least the person who was getting shot at. We don't care why they were getting shot at, but that person knows who was shooting at them and they know why it happened. We really need those people to come forward and speak to us."
"If we don't want things like this to keep happening in our communities, people need to step up and do the right thing," Edwards said. "This was a child. Eight years old."
If you have any information about this case or any additional information to share with detectives contact IMPD or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
