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Mother killed outside daycare on Indy's west side, suspect hurt in shooting involving police

Suspect is stable; being held on multiple domestic-related warrants
Daycare shooting
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10TH AND DELAWARE
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INDIANAPOLIS — The man suspected of fatally shooting a woman while she was dropping her children off at a daycare was hurt during a shooting involving police.

Around 10:30 a.m. Friday, Orlando Mithcell, 33, was injured in an officer-involved shooting near 10th Street and North Delaware Street in Downtown Indianapolis, according to IMPD Officer Samone Burris and WRTV Investigates sources.

Mitchell was taken to an Indianapolis hospital and is stable, according to Burris. In their update Friday afternoon, IMPD said that two veteran officers discharged their weapons after the suspect holding a rifle.

10TH AND DELAWARE

Burris told WRTV that police located several firearms during their investigation.

Hours earlier, a woman, identified by family as Krystal Walton, was shot to death early Friday while she was dropping off her children at a daycare center and church on the city's west side, police say.

Officer responded about 7:20 a.m. to the intersection of West 10th Street and North Holmes Avenue after receiving a call that someone had been shot there, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

The intersection is right next to Charity Church Child Care Center in the 2600 block of West 10th Street. It's on the edge of the Haughville neighborhood.

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The suspect in a homicide Sept. 16, 2022 at a day care on Indy's west side is wheeled away on a stretcher following an officer-involved shooting.

Walton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say Mitchell came up to Walton in the daycare parking lot and shot her multiple times, killing her.

In their Friday afternoon update, IMPD stated the incident is believed to be domestic-related. In 2021, Mitchell was charged with four felonies including strangulation, domestic battery, criminal confinement and intimidation. The charges were in relation to incidents against Walton.

Mitchell was sentenced to 363 days in jail, but the sentence was suspended in July 2022.

Mitchell was sentenced to one-year probation, 26-week domestic violence counseling or batterer’s intervention, a no-contact order for Walton (unless the contact involved childcare for their son) and a substance abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment, according to court documents.

Mitchell violated the conditions of the agreement, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.

As a result, on Aug. 6, prosecutors filed three additional charges against Mitchell for invasion of privacy, intimidation and residential entry.

A warrant was issued for Mitchell’s arrest on Thursday, court records show.

Daycare shooting

There were children besides Walton's present at the time, some of whom witnessed the violence. The Walton's children did not witness the shooting, according to police.

Officers worked on getting children who were at the daycare at the time back home through a back entrance, an official told WRTV at the scene. Parents and guardians could retrieve their kids through a back alley east of Holmes Street accessible by St. Clair Street.

A chaplain was called to the scene for the children who were present, the family of the victim and others who were impacted.

If children witness a crime like today, there are resources available.

  • Brooke's Place on North Meridian Street provides support groups and therapy sessions to children and teens
  • Children's Mental Health Wraparound Program is provided by the state.
  • Local hospitals
  • Local doctor's offices

A section of 10th Street in the area of the homicide was temporarily closed and later reopened. After Mitchell was shot, the intersection of 10th and Delaware streets was closed. It's expected to reopen during rush hour traffic on Friday, according to IMPD.

Anyone with more information may contact IMPD detectives at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS).

This is a developing story.

WRTV Investigates Reporter Rafael Sanchez contributed to this report.