INDIANAPOLIS — Police are investigating after three people were shot Tuesday night on Indianapolis' north side. Two of the victims have died.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to the 7200 block of Rue de Margot Drive, just east of West 71st Street and North Michigan Road, shortly before 9:30 p.m. on a report of shots fired with a person down.
Shortly afterwards, officers were also dispatched to a gas station in the 7200 block of North Michigan Road on a report of a person shot.
Officers responding to Rue de Margot Drive found two people who had been shot. Both were pronounced dead on scene.
Officers at the gas station found a car struck by bullets with a man inside who had been shot. The man was taken to an area hospital and is listed in critical condition. Police initially said he was in stable condition.
IMPD homicide detectives responded to the scene to begin an investigation. Investigators believe the two incidents are related, and there is no active threat to the public.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the victims as 17-year-old Jaivin Hoskin and George Qualls III, 22.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Christopher Edwards at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email him at Christopher.Edwards@Indy.Gov.
This shooting comes at the end of a year where Indianapolis saw more violence than ever before. Also on Tuesday, a man who was critically injured in a shooting in Castleton died. On Wednesday morning, a woman was killed in a shooting on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
“We've got to get back to people caring about life," said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor in an interview with 13News before the Thanksgiving holiday. “And, if you don't care about life, then I'm concerned about you, because I don't know what you'll do.”
As the year comes to a close, city leaders and lawmakers are setting their sights on 2022 and how to make the new year less violent.
At the statehouse, Marion County's Republican senators announced a package of bills aimed at curbing crime.
They detailed a total of five bills that address some of the things community leaders and the police union have been complaining about. One of the bills would reduce the number of violent offenders released on bail. Another would establish a Marion County crime reduction board and a third would regulate charitable bail organizations by requiring they register with the Department of Insurance.
IMPD is also working to upgrade its crime-fighting technology to assist police response and evidence gathering as part of the city's effort to curb violent crime.
These upgrades include installing more public safety cameras in high crime areas. The new cameras will complement the cameras already installed downtown and at intersections throughout the city.