INDIANAPOLIS — The mother of the 17-year-old who is charged in the mass shooting that injured seven people between the ages of 12 and 16 in downtown Indianapolis told 13News that her son was defending himself and other victims that night.
Holly Dennis wiped away tears outside the courtroom Wednesday morning after seeing her 17-year-old son, King Dennis, in inmate clothes being tried as an adult.
"He's not a monster. He's very smart and intelligent. He's very respectful," Holly said. "He didn't go downtown for no commotion. He went to have a good time."
Police said King was seen on surveillance video pointing and shooting a gun near West Maryland and South Illinois streets around 11 p.m. March 30.
Court documents say King was one of two people arrested at the scene – and later released – for fighting with the police.
"My son was walking away from the crowd," Holly said.
Holly spoke with 13News to tell her perspective after watching the surveillance video, which she said doesn't show the whole story.
"The people started shooting first, King let off twice. And that's when the shooting stopped," Holly said. "It has nothing to do with King and whoever was down there with him. I can say that. It was something that happened amongst somebody else that we have no knowledge of. All we know is King got caught up in the crossfire by trying to defend himself and get to safety."
Holly said her son didn't know the person who pulled the trigger first or why.
"If he was in the wrong, why did he go back to the scene? Why didn't he just keep going?" Holly said of her son. "My son only came back to the scene to make sure everyone was OK that he went down there with."
Holly also said her son fired the shots with someone else's gun.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office said King will be tried as an adult because he has a prior conviction for dangerous possession of a handgun.
"I feel as though his juvenile past should not affect him," Holly said.
Holly hasn't spoken to the victims or their parents, but she said her son was trying to protect the people in the crowd — not hurt them.
"So, it could have been many, many more kids and civilians dead if my son would not let them two bullets off," Holly said.
Medics took the shooting victims to local hospitals, including five to Riley Hospital for Children, an IU Health spokesperson confirmed to 13News.
IMPD identified the victims as a 12-year-old boy, three 14-year-old girls, a 16-year-old girl and two other 16-year-old boys.
One of the victims was initially in critical condition, but had since been upgraded to "stable," according to IMPD. All other victims were described as stable, including a seventh victim who arrived at Community Hospital South with a gunshot wound.
Prosecutors charged King with two counts of criminal recklessness and one count of dangerous possession of a firearm.
During the initial hearing, the judge set King's bond at $25,000. King entered a not guilty plea and was ordered to stay at least six blocks away from where the shooting took place.
King's next hearing is scheduled for June 4 at 1 p.m.