INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – A mother came home late Thursday night to her north side Indianapolis apartment to find her teenage son dead on the couch.
The mother called police about 10:40 p.m. Paramedics pronounced 17-year-old Elijah Gordon dead at the scene. The coroner ruled Friday that Gordon died from multiple gunshot wounds. He was a student at North Central High School.
The blue front door of the family’s apartment appears to have three bullet holes in it. Police found shell casings in the doorway.
Jamael Hollins lives in the adjoining apartment next door and heard the gunshots.
"It was just three gunshots,” said Hollins Friday morning. “I didn't hear a whole lot of commotion or anything. I was watching TV, so that may have covered it. I just heard the three gunshots and kind of hunkered down. Once I saw the lights I kind of checked through the blinds and realized something was going on."
Hollins said he has lived at the Dogwood Glen Apartments just south of St. Vincent Hospital for about five months.
"From my experience they were really nice. I had met him and his mother. They always spoke when I saw them. It's sad that this is where we are in today's day and age. It's sad that he was a young guy and there's so many things that he's not going to get to do, not going to have the opportunity to see or experience. That's unfortunately how problems are solved these days."
Alex Paskie came last night to check on his sister, who lives at the apartment complex on the same 2200 block of Woodglen Drive where the teenager was killed. He thinks the complex should have security guards.
"I’m nervous, nervous, real scared,” said Paskie. “I feel you’ve got to do what you need to do to protect yourself, purchasing a firearm or moving altogether somewhere else." Police do not know how many suspects were involved. Several neighbors said they heard the gunshots Thursday night. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.