INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD is investigating after a child was injured by gunfire early Wednesday morning on the city's northeast side.
An IMPD spokesperson told 13News the incident was reported around 1 a.m. in the 9700 block of East 42nd Street, near Mitthoeffer Road.
A 5-year-old girl was found shot in the leg and taken to Riley Hospital for Children. The child was reported to be in stable condition and is expected to be OK.
A second victim, a 14-year-old, was said to have received a graze wound, which was later determined to have been caused by debris, not a gunshot. The 14-year-old declined treated by medics.
Police said the shots were fired into the house from outside. The gunfire, meant for someone else, happened across the street from Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.
"It's unfortunate that this baby is a victim of a cycle of violence," said Pastor Theron Williams.
13 News learned the gunfire stems from young adults arguing with each other.
The seemingly non-stop gun violence has people frustrated.
"Early in the morning again, kids again," said Antonio Patton, an east side community leader. "As someone who goes around this city and see the smiles on these kids' face and they are not safe in their house? Where can we be safe at?"
Metro Police also responded to an incident about a mile away, at Amber Woods Apartments. Officers found an adult woman who died from a gunshot wound.
"Our city is under a rampage of heart felt brokeness. It's almost like a nuclear bomb has gone off," said Patton.
"It just explodes and anybody that is in the way becomes victim of that person's explosion," Pastor Williams added.
Community leaders hope people angry with each other can resolve their issues without guns.
"Particularly in interpersonal relationship, and so that's my prayer," said Williams.
If you have information, contact Metro Police or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
On the day following the shooting, Indianapolis City-County Council Chairwoman La Keisha Jackson released a statement saying driveby shootings at any home, especially those where children are present, are "shameful" and that the way children are being traumatized by these shootings is "absolutely unacceptable."
Here's her full statement:
"For the second time in less than a week, children in our city have been injured by gunfire coming from outside their homes. The recklessness of firing a gun into any home, but especially one where children are present, is beyond shameful. I am very grateful that the two little girls injured last night survived the shooting, but the way children in this city are being traumatized, injured, and killed by gunfire is absolutely unacceptable.
The issue of gun violence affects all of us, and we must all work together to address it. The Council appropriated unprecedented levels of public safety funding for 2021, and we continue to work with our partners in the administration to bring additional resources to bear on this challenge. But resources alone cannot change the mindsets of those who believe gun violence is the solution, rather than the problem.
I am praying for the family that was targeted in last night’s shooting. To the shooters, and to anyone tempted to use a gun to resolve a dispute, I say please learn to resolve anger and conflict without risking or taking someone else’s life. To those with information about the shooting last night, or any of the recent shootings in our city, I say: if you see something, say something. Save someone’s life.
If you need assistance resolving a conflict or would like to become a volunteer community mediator, contact the James E. Waters Community Mediation Center at mediation@indy.gov. If you have information about this or any crime, please call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477) or at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or go to www.crimetips.org."