INDIANAPOLIS — It happens in a matter of seconds.
Gunshots ring out in an Indianapolis neighborhood, changing lives forever.
It is something IMPD Ofc. Tommy Thompson said his fellow officers see too often.
"What if that was your life that was taken?" Thompson asked. "What if that was your mom's life, your dad's life, your brother's or sister's? It has ripple effects, and it's just tragic."
Sadly, it's also a reality for at least eight Indianapolis neighborhoods in just the past 48 hours.
"It's just tragic, and it weighs on officers mentally and physically," Thompson said.
Between Sunday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. and the same time Tuesday, Aug. 20, at least a dozen people were shot. IMPD reports at least six of those people died.
"It's devastating," Thompson said. "And it takes its toll, for sure."
Incidents:
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 around 7 a.m. in the 9200 block of Ascot Circle
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 around 3;30 a.m. in the 600 block of Udell Street
- Monday, Aug. 19 around 5:15 p.m. in the 2200 block of Kentucky Avenue
- Monday, Aug. 19 around 2 p.m. in the 4100 West Vermont Street
- Sunday, Aug. 18 around 11 p.m. in the 4500 block of Golden Meadow Drive
- Sunday, Aug. 18 around 9:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of West 64th Street
- Sunday, Aug. 18 around 9 p.m. near East 42nd Street and North Post Road
- Sunday, Aug. 18 around 6:15 p.m. on West 38th Street, near Moller Road
On Monday, three men were found shot at three different locations on Indy's west side.
Two of them died, according to police. The third is in critical condition, at last check.
On Tuesday, IMPD said they believe all three scenes are connected. As of Tuesday afternoon, police have not made any arrests.
"This is real life," Thompson said. "It's not some TikTok and flashing money and guns. It's dangerous."
Thompson said the west side investigation is part of a much larger problem across Indianapolis.
"Any gun violence is too much, right?" Thompson asked.
Currently, IMPD says they work closely with the Indiana Gun Crimes Task Force to monitor trends and hotspots of gun violence.
"We work hard to make sure we provide gun locks," Thompson said. "We continue to try to engage with the community. We have community relations units that have crime watch meetings."
In fact, Thompson said each IMPD district has a CrimeWatch specialist, as part of Indy CrimeWatch.
The recent shootings come as the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police claims the city is short hundreds of police officers.
"It makes it tougher," Thompson said. "More work on one officer. You're just spreading that workload out."
That's why police say they rely on the community for help. Thompson said it all goes back to "see something, say something."
"That 262-TIPS number is huge," Thompson said. "So many people call in, and that's such a help. You can remain anonymous, or you don't have to be anonymous."
Thompson said we can all be better at holding ourselves accountable when we see something suspicious.
"We just need to be better at what we're doing as people," Thompson said. "Every individual, we have to be better. We need to be each other's keeper and brother."