Teen Shot To Death Downtown Following Fireworks Show

A teenage boy was shot and killed on a sidewalk in downtown Indianapolis shortly after the conclusion of last night's Fourth of July fireworks show that drew large crowds downtown. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Meridian and West Maryland outside of Circle Centre Mall while large crowds were still roaming the streets according to WRTV. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. While the shooting investigation was unfolding, police officers struggled to control unruly teenagers a short distance away, resulting in several arrests.

Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. held an IndyPendence Day Street Festival on Georgia Street that many downtown visitors found a bit too pricey. Ticket prices for entrance to the festival cost between $20 for general admission to as high as $40 for a VIP seats closer to the stage where several different bands played during the event. Several bands with limited appeal performed at the festival, including Puddle of Mudd, Sick Puppies, Trapt, Alien Ant Farm and Hoobastank.

Here's amateur video taken after the shooting uploaded to YouTube by James Hamilton.


UPDATE: The Star has an online story that included these comments of what State Sen. Mike Delph observed while watching the fireworks near the canal dowtown:

State Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, said he saw fighting near the Downtown Canal and State Capitol while watching fireworks with his family. He called the scene “total anarchy” and called for greater resources for IMPD to try to help them address security.

“I had never felt unsafe in the city of Indianapolis,” he said. “It was just a sad time to be there.”

The Star notes that IMPD had to resort to the use of pepper balls to break up several fights among large groups of teen-agers.  "IMPD Sgt. Jerry Durham wrote in one report that the 'unruly, unsupervised juveniles' Downtown 'numbered several hundred,'" the Star reported. "Durham arrested a 14-year-old boy on charges of disorderly conduct because he refused to quit blocking the sidewalk." A 20-year old was arrested near the canal at 9:15 p.m. for carrying a 9mm semi-automatic gun with 9 rounds of ammunition. The Star details multiple other arrests.

• 9:45 p.m. Thursday: Police responded to a large fight at 200 N. Senate Ave. and arrested a 17-year-old boy on disorderly conduct charges.
• 10:08 p.m. Thursday: Police arrested a 17-year-old boy at 200 W. Ohio St. at on charges of resisting arrests, disorderly conduct and battery.
Police said they saw the boy push another boy in the head and chased the teen for a block before using a Taser to subdue him. The boy was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital to have the electric prongs removed.
• 11:35 p.m.: Thursday: A 14-year-old girl was also arrested for disorderly conduct at Illinois and Maryland streets.
• 11:40 p.m. Thursday: A 15-year-old girl was arrested for disorderly conduct after police said they spotted her squaring up to fight another girl at 11:40 p.m. at 50 S. Illinois St.
The other combatant backed- away from the girl and was almost struck by a car, police said.
The arresting officer shot a “pepper-ball” across the street to stop the 15 year-old from initiating the fight.
• 12:30 a.m. Friday: Tradale Jones, 18, Indianapolis, was preliminarily charged with battery for slapping a 16-year-old girl across the face at Illinois and Washington streets.
• 12:45 a.m. Friday: Police arrested a 16-year-old boy at North Meridian and Vermont streets on charges of resisting arrest, curfew violation and disorderly conduct. A police report stated that the boy fought officers and spit at them when they tried to handcuff him.