IMPD's homicide unit is investigating a body found Wednesday morning in a Brookside Avenue home.
The home is located in a
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Indianapolis Metro Police were called to 2900 Brookside Avenue after a man called to report he hadn't spoken to his son for several weeks. When officers went inside the home, they found the man dead with signs of trauma.
The man, identified as 50-year-old Johnny Hicks, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency arrived to process the crime scene and gather forensic evidence.
The identity of the deceased is not being released at this time, pending family notifications. At this point, investigators don't know how the man died.
Residents of the area, like Rosie Brown, thought things were improving in the east Indianapolis neighborhood until Wednesday's murder.
"I seen the police over here, but nothing like that. Nothing serious," Brown said.
"It's never good for any of our neighborhoods when we have a death by suspicious means. This area has been hit hard," said IMPD Maj. Chris Bailey.
Police had already been focusing on this area, called a "hot spot" for crime, trying to reduce the violence in the Brookside Avenue area.
But the murder comes after an already violent year close to Rosie Brown's home.
Just blocks away in January 2014, store security cameras recorded a man who opened fire, killing Tyrese Dorsey and William Davis. On February 21 last year, someone shot and killed Michael Whitfield and Lorenzo Clark. In November, police found the body of Kyle Kania in the back seat of a car, doused with bleach.
It all happened in an area plagued with dozens of vacant and abandoned houses, something Rosie Brown hopes is only temporary.
"This neighborhood is okay. It's a cool neighborhood," she said.
Still, Brown has a message for whoever is responsible for the latest act of violence near her home.
"Turn yourself in. It would be the best thing to do. Turn yourself in. It's going to be your conscience," she said.
If you have information about Wednesday's murder on Brookside Avenue, call Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS. Callers may also text "INDYCS" plus tip information to 274637 (CRIMES).
