Indianapolis, IN
Community leaders unite to combat youth violence in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — In the wake of a recent mass shooting on July 5, community leaders across Indianapolis are coming together to address youth violence and foster lasting relationships within neighborhoods.
“Building relationships means letting people know their lives are important,” said Rev. Eric Kersey, St. Andrew United Methodist Church.
The initiative includes local neighborhood associations and churches and seeks to provide hope and support to the city’s youth as they walk the streets of Downtown Indianapolis this weekend.
WRTV
“It’s important to show community, to show those relationships that we’re building and they come together in different ways in your neighborhood — downtown, east side, west side, north side. I go everywhere because we are one,” Debbie Patterson with Positive Impact Neighborhood.
Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IMPD) and city leaders acknowledge that they cannot tackle this issue alone. This weekend, they will join the Indianapolis TenPoint Coalition and dozens of other community leaders for a street walk through downtown Indianapolis, aiming to raise awareness and curb youth violence.
“Indianapolis’ own justice system is not doing the job. I think the police department is, but the rest of the equation is not being carried out,” said Gov. Braun.
This week, Governor Mike Braun (R) criticized the local justice system, stating that both prosecutor Ryan Mears and Mayor Joe Hogsett, (D) are failing to protect residents.
WRTV
“Braun has never once told us what his plan or solution would be to teen gun violence,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
In addition to the street walk, advocates will hold a community conversation on Saturday at the Great Commission Church of God from 3-5 p.m. Leaders say it will be focused on solutions and engagement, emphasizing that addressing violence is not a one-person problem, but a collective community challenge.
“I don’t want parents not to show up and then, when they have to show up, it’s unfortunately visiting their children behind bars,” Antonia Bailey, Survivor Advocate and Support Specialist for IMPD said.
All with the goal of sparking change long after this weekend.
“We just need to bring that hope back into their hearts, that sparkle back into their eyes to live and know they have something to live for,” Ashlynne Walker said.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
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