INDIANAPOLIS — Within 12 hours Sunday, Aug. 18, IMPD responded to three shootings where the victims were all children.
The first happened around noon on North Dearborn Street, near North Keystone Avenue, when 4-year-old Corione Monte Butts Jr. accidentally shot himself. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
Then, around 6:15 p.m., a man brought his child to a local hospital with gunshot wounds. Investigators believe the shooting could be related to an armed robbery at the Planet Fitness on West 38th Street, near Moller Road. That child's condition was described as "stable."
Just five hours later, off Golden Meadow Drive, near West 46th Street and Moller Road, police found another boy under the age of 10 critically injured. Police said he also accidentally shot himself after getting a gun in a bedroom. The Marion County Coroner's Office confirmed 5-year-old Jayden Ewing died from his injuries.
"It's just unfortunate to think these families have to deal with such a tragedy," IMPD Ofc. Tommy Thompson said.
No arrests have been made in any of the cases, but police say these are all multiagency investigations. The department says in any case where a child is shot, detectives work with the Department of Child Services to make arrests.
"It's a lot of working parts and a lot of back and forth until we are good to move forward," Thompson said. "We want to strengthen that case if there is a need for criminal charges."
13News talked with Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears to see if he will file charges in the future. He said these cases are on his radar.
"Number one, we are looking for the adults in charge, then number two, we take a hard look to see if this is accidental or someone was acting with intent," Mears said.
As these investigations continue, police urge parents to lock up their guns and think about how something like this could impact their child.
"It's just that one millisecond, that fraction of time that is devastating and changes the child's life," Thompson said.
If you are in need of a gun lock, you can get one for free by calling IMPD or the Marion County Sheriff's Office.