INDIANAPOLIS — 78-year-old Paul Edmonds, owner of an Indianapolis coin and stamp store, went to the parking lot of southeast side Hardees to see a woman who wanted to buy coins. The meeting cost Edmonds his life.
The Marion County Prosecutor released information Tuesday on the shooting death of Edmonds and the arrest of the suspect, 24-year-old Kayla Blankenship.
Edmonds was shot Friday night in the parking lot of the Hardees at Brookville Road and Arlington Avenue. He died Saturday, but was able to provide police enough information to help lead them to the suspect.
Edmonds, who owned and operated Diamond Stamp and Coin at 3440 Shadeland Avenue for the last 35-years, often met customers at locations away from the store. The Hardees parking lot at the busy southeast side intersection was one of those places, according to a probable cause affidavit released by the prosecutor.
After he was shot, Edmonds went into the restaurant to get help. Although gravely wounded, he was able to tell police that he met the suspect to sell her coins. Instead, she allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him.
Edmonds suffered wounds to the pancreas, liver and spleen. He hung on through the night but died Saturday at IU Methodist Hospital.
Police were able to use information on Edmond's cell phone to identify Blankenship as the suspect. They also viewed security camera video of the incident provided by a nearby liquor store. It showed a suspect leaving Edmond's car less than one minute after arriving at the parking lot.
Cell phone information led police to a motel in Plainfield where Blankenship was staying with a man identified as her boyfriend. He was arrested on charges from an outstanding warrant in an unrelated case.
Blankenship faces murder charges and one count of attempted robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. She is being held in the Marion County Jail and is scheduled for a court hearing in early-December.
