INDIANAPOLIS — High emotions at a funeral on Saturday created an unwanted scene that no family should have to endure after a fight took over a moment of grief.
"It seems as if there were high emotions for whatever reason for whatever side," Antonio Lipscomb said.
Lipscomb says he was attending vocational training at New Direction Church next door from Williams & Bluitt Funeral Home.
"I had seen at least 10-15 police cars," Lipscomb said.
The parking lot quickly spiraled into chaos.
"It just seems like the disregard of the human life and care for the deceased definitely wasn't distributed that day," Lipscomb said.
People started fighting inside the funeral home, sending nearly 150 people into the parking lot scrambling for safety. Witnesses told police at least one person used pepper spray.
"A lot of screaming, a lot of violent languages and violent behavior," Lipscomb said.
IMPD and the emergency response group responded to the scene. IMPD officials said it didn't take long for them to calm down the crowd.
"Williams & Bluitt is a staple in this community," Pastor Kenneth Sullivan at New Direction Church said.
"We know that it's not something that they want. It's something that we don't want. We want to encourage the community to recognize that the businesses that do business in our community, we want to respect them," Sullivan said.
Sullivan said this was yet another incident that could have been avoided. He said his efforts to curb the violence are not in vain, and it does not discourage his push for change.
"We have to continue to push back the darkness and strive to make a difference in our community so that the next generation can grow up different and can have a better mindset," Sullivan said.
One person was arrested in connection to this incident for a stolen gun.
Funeral home manager Aundray Jones said this is disappointing, but they are committed to doing whatever they can to help the community curb the violence.
-
Greenwood 13-year-old charged with murder for death of another 13-year-old boy
The Johnson County prosecutor filed murder and criminal recklessness charges against a 13-year-old boy on Nov. 19.
Appeals court rules Indiana's ban on gender-affirming care for minors can remain
A panel of judges ruled 2-1 Wednesday that the law's restrictions do not infringe on the constitutional rights of transgender children, their parents or medical providers.
Colts-Jets matchup features return of NFL's 2nd-youngest QB vs. oldest
When 22-year-old Anthony Richardson takes the field for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, he'll square off against 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets.
Indiana State Police ramping up patrols, working overtime over Thanksgiving
More officers will be out and about over the Thanksgiving travel period and will focus on impaired and aggressive driving and the proper use of seat belts.
