INDIANAPOLIS — Police continue to investigate a shooting that left a 15-year-old dead early Tuesday morning in a northeast Indianapolis neighborhood.
Police say Sadayreon Edwards was found shot around 1:30 a.m. on Meadowlark Drive. He died at the hospital a short time later.
Neighbors say they want violence among youth to stop.
"It may sound crazy, but I prayed to protect my child. I said, 'God, you know what to do,'" she said.
A mother of three, who did not want to give her name, said the area is changing.
"Look at our teenagers killing each other and doing all kinds of stuff they got no business doing," she said.
Other neighbors said Edwards had a long life ahead of him.
"That's sad to lose your life at 15. No mother should have to bury their kid to gun violence. It's messed up," said Kayla Mines.
According to IMPD, so far this year about 50 children under the age of 18 were victims of non-fatal shootings. There were 79 in 2021.
"Everybody wants to carry a gun, but see then you have that mentality that I'm bad. It changes your mentality when you carry a gun, so that's the first thing you do when you get mad is you pull a gun," said the mom.
Kelvin Harris said the neighborhood needs more activities to engage youth.
"When I went to Arlington, they used to have activities around the school and Devington Plaza where kids can go to and do stuff, but you know those businesses shut down, so kids just find whatever they can get into," Harris said.
His mom said discipline may help reduce crime among youth.
"My kids will tell you, I used to call the police on my kids. They're fighting in the house. I have to show them you don't be out here fighting. You don't fight each other, and you don't get out here fighting. People go to jail for fighting, so don't do it," she said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective James Hurt at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email James.Hurt@indy.gov. Tips can also be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.