INDIANAPOLIS — As of Sunday night, Indianapolis has reported more than 200 total homicides for the fourth year in a row. However, the number remains lower compared to the last two years.
The latest shooting happened Sunday night on the northwest side, shortly before 11 p.m.
Officers responded to a gas station near the intersection of West 29th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets on a report of two people shot.
They located a man and woman inside a car. The woman, who was the driver of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. The male passenger was taken in critical condition to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the woman as 25-year-old Rosalba G. Torres Arceo and the man as 22-year-old David Lee Swanigan.
An IMPD spokesperson said officers found multiple shell casings at a building across the street from the gas station.
Police believe one of the victims attempted to drive away after the shooting before crashing at the gas station.
“We keep repeating the same kind of activity in this area and I am frustrated. I’m frustrated about talking about the same things and it keeps happening over and over again,” said Rev. Charles Harrison with the Ten Point Coalition.
Harrison and Ten Point members patrol the area of 29th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets almost every day and say it is one of the city's hotspots for crime.
Back in September, five people were shot at the intersection after police say a fight led to gunfire.
That same month, a man was shot and killed in his car a few blocks south.
The area was also the center of several street takeovers that resulted in more than a dozen arrests.
“We have really tried to work with the businesses, because IMPD and Ten Point cannot be at this location 24/7,” Harrison said.
It’s why Harrison is now calling on businesses to step up and help by asking them to provide security at night and on the weekends to deter loitering and criminal activity.
At the intersection, there is a gas station, liquor store and a restaurant.
“I think it is their responsibility to help out and make sure we keep this area safe,” Harrison said.
Harrison said a meeting is set for later this week with community leaders, IMPD and business owners to figure out possible solutions.
As for the double homicide, police told 13News Sunday night they did not have a suspect, and no arrests had been made.
The homicides were the 200th and 201st in Indianapolis this year, slightly below the 208 through the same date in 2022. Of this year's homicides, 163 have been deemed criminal homicides.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Christopher Winter at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email Christopher.Winter@indy.gov. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.