INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD on Monday announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with an August 2024 shooting that killed a 3-year-old boy and 22-year-old man on Indianapolis' northeast side.
The shooting happened around 10 p.m. Aug. 26 in the 7300 block of Shadeland Avenue, near East 71st Street.
An off-duty Lawrence police officer found 3-year-old Armonie Booker and 22-year-old Jaishawn Johnson with gunshot wounds inside a car outside of a strip mall, and worked with medics to provide aid.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Booker was taken in critical condition to Riley Hospital for Children, where he was pronounced dead.
IMPD homicide detectives identified 22-year-old William Paschall-Young as a suspect in the case.
According to police, the shooting was captured on surveillance cameras. As a woman walks into a liquor store, a man walks out. The man walks to Johnson's car and then starts shooting.
In the probable cause for Paschall-Young's arrest, police say he was inside the liquor store moments before the shooting.
They say Paschall-Young was trying to buy alcohol and told the clerks "It's my birthday, boy" before putting his ID on the counter. Police say the photo on the ID matches the photo on Paschall-Young's license.
Police also showed the photo to women who said that Paschall-Young had shot at them in May. Both women identified him as the man in the video.
"1,000% sure," one woman said, according to police.
One of the women had Paschall-Young's phone number, which police were able to trace to the area of the murder when it happened. They say call records for the phone match with when Paschall-Young receives a call in the surveillance video.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, an IMPD officer on patrol pulled over a car in the 300 block of North Sherman Drive, near East New York Street. The officer recognized Paschall-Young, who was taken into custody, the department said.
The Marion County Prosecutor's Office charged him with two counts of murder. His initial hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19.
"This arrest marks a significant step toward justice for the families affected by this tragedy, including the innocent toddler whose life was senselessly cut short," IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said in a statement. "The impact of this violent act continues to reverberate throughout our community and weigh heavily on the families of the victims."
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to contact IMPD Det. Michael Wright 317-327-3475 or email Michael.Wright@indy.gov.
Family shares their relief after arrest
Family of Armonie Booker say the arrest has lifted a weight off their hearts.
"I cried. I got down on my knees and said, 'Thank you, Jesus!' I said, 'Armonie, you can rest now baby!'" said Michelle Anderson, Armonie Booker's great-grandmother.
Anderson got the news Monday morning from IMPD that she's been waiting to hear for months: the man accused of Booker's murder is now in jail.
"I been praying every day that they catch him, whoever did it," Anderson said.
As Anderson sat outside of her home, a large drape showing Booker smiling, covered the front windows. Teddy bears, framed photos of Booker and flowers lay underneath it.
Anderson said Spider-Man was one of his favorites, and he always kept everyone laughing.
"He was the goofiest little kid but as sweet as he could be," Anderson said.
While family continues to grieve, they will remember how much Booker touched their lives.
"How could you kill a 3-year-old?"
"We were just talking about his birthday coming up and that he was going to be a big boy now," Tiah Gaithings, who cut Booker's hair for about a year and a half, told 13News after the shooting. "He just has so much personality."
"As soon as I seen it on social media, I just threw my phone because I was angry, because how could you kill a 3-year-old?" Gaithings said. "He's interesting. He's so full of life. He's just so well-behaved. Well-mannered. He's just so, he's character. He just has so much personality. Like, that's what drew me into him."
"He deserves to be remembered for his positive contributions"
Brandon Randall, a mentor for Johnson, said he spent the last few years working to turn his life around. Randall said Johnson recently got his GED and was looking to start a career.
"He was a victim to violence, and he deserves to be remembered for his positive contributions to this world," Randall said in August.
Randall told 13News Johnson was one of those students who always looked out for everyone.
"I worked with young people for 18 years. Sometimes, you just meet a student that makes an impression on you. Jaishawn was one of those young people," Randall said.
