INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD arrested a 16-year-old for their alleged role in a deadly shooting on the city's west side Wednesday morning.
Around 6:15 a.m. on Aug. 23, officers responded to the 7100 block of Pluto Drive, southeast of South Girls School and Rockville roads, for a report of a person shot.
Officers located a man outside who was initially described by IMPD as in critical condition. Police later confirmed the victim, identified Thursday by the Marion County Coroner's Office as 18-year-old Terry Ross, died at the scene.
"Our community is waking up to a life lost within the residential area. Children are heading off to school. So, this is something they have to see a crime scene," IMPD Officer Samone Burris said. "I will say time and time again, 'It's not normal. It's not OK. This is not something that our community should have to experience at this rate.'"
IMPD said one person has been detained at the scene and questioned by detectives.
Wednesday afternoon, detectives announced the arrest of a 16-year-old for his alleged involvement in the incident. He has been preliminarily charged with murder. The Marion County Coroner's Office will make the final charging decision.
According to court documents, when police spoke with the 16-year-old, he told them, "My mom got cameras, I checked. Dude got a ski mask, hoodie, checking every car in the neighborhood..."
The shooting suspect's mother allegedly told police she woke up from the Ring camera and was scared. She called for her son, and she said he then got a gun. According to court documents, the mother then said, "He shoot two, two times I think."
Police claim they found ammo, along with two spent shell casings, in the 16-year-old's bedroom, and a 9mm gun in the mother's room.
Officers claim the video footage from the home shows Ross going through a car. He appears to look up, then turn and walk out of camera view to where police found him dead.
"To go right away to shoot to kill is probably going to be problematic with the state of facts based on the limited knowledge that I have," attorney Carman Malone said.
She said before picking up a gun, police should've been called.
"The state is probably going to argue that there was no immediate danger," Malone said. "Yes, you can protect your property, but this was not a case where you needed to protect it with deadly force."
Police said they found two cellphones with Ross. A check of neighbors' surveillance video showed Ross was trying to get into cars, not any of the homes, according to police.
13News spoke with a neighbor, Derek Driver, who got a notification on his security system Wednesday.
"Somebody was on my driveway," Driver said. "It showed somebody jiggling door handles and then going out of frame to the next house, basically."
After the shooting, another neighbor came out and witnessed the commotion.
"I was actually just coming out to get my son on the bus, and I saw the ambulance pull up, and then a firetruck afterwards, and then the cops," Michael Browning said.
"We're asking you to call us first before you make a decision to take a life or to take matters into your own hands. Contact the police," Burris said.
A Wayne Township Schools spokesperson said the district was aware of the incident, which did not impact school start times Wednesday.
"These incidents are tragic. Our community is waking up to lives lost," Burris said.
Police are asking for people who live nearby to check their doorbell cameras for any details that could assist in the investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Ryan Clark at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email him at Ryan.Clark@indy.gov.
Tips can also be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.