Indianapolis, IN

‘Our children are hurting’: Peace walk rallies community against youth violence

Published

7 months ago

August 24, 2024

‘Our children are hurting’: Peace walk rallies community against youth violence

More than 100 residents joined a peace walk Saturday on the city’s far east side to raise awareness and rally the community against the growing issue of youth gun violence in Indianapolis.

“Our children are hurting,” said Antonia Bailey, one of the participants. “They’re being raised by parents that are hurting and have no clue what to do.”

Bailey knows that pain personally.

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the murder of her 16-year-old son, Nicholas, and 15-year-old daughter, Ashlynn. The two Lawrence North students were shot and killed by another teen in their home as they got ready for school on the morning of Aug. 23, 2019.

“We have to do better as a community with wrapping our arms around our children, because they’re our future,” Bailey told a group of marchers before they set out from the Boys & Girls Club near West 38th Street and North Post Road. “Right now, when I look at it, it looks real bleak. And when I look at our future generation that’s going to be taking over, I have so much hope that it’s not always going to be like this.”

The person who shot her children was himself only a child at the time. He is now serving a 40-year prison sentence.

“I made the decision to forgive and have then spoke life into that young man,” Bailey said.

Although homicide totals have dropped since peaking in 2021, killings of people under the age of 18 have steadily risen in the past few years, according to data from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Indianapolis police investigated 25 homicides during 2023 in which a person 17 years or younger was killed. Speedway and Lawrence police handled three additional youth homicides.

Those who participated in Saturday’s mile-and-a-half peace walk Saturday pledged to push back against that trend.

“Oftentimes, the light in our community flickers because we see so much violence on the television and on the news,” said Pastor Darryl Webster of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church and the Indianapolis Urban Pastors Coalition. “Today is a great example of the light shining through.”

“The source is deeper than the symptoms and we can’t treat it with just policies alone,” Webster said. “Policies are good, but that ain’t going to treat all of the symptoms. We also need people, and we need the spiritual component.”

A three-wheeled motorcycle group called the Indy 3s led the march. Among the group’s members is Denise Bonds, whose 25-year-old son De’Rell Brown was shot and killed at his apartment complex Jan. 25, 2021. His homicide remains unsolved.

“The hardest part is not having any closure,” said Bonds. Her Spyder motorcycle is covered in photographs of her son, a U.S. Army veteran. The dates of his birth and death are written on her helmet.

“Please think before you pull the trigger,” she said. “Please think of the devastation.”

The walk culminated with a community fair at Pathway Resource Center at Amber Woods Apartments. There were food trucks, a DJ and a bounce house. The fair included workshops on de-escalation, conflict resolution and mental health. Other services such as immunizations and dental care were also provided.

The event was sponsored by state Sen. La Keisha Jackson, who is CEO of Pathway Resource Center, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, led by City-County Councilor Maggie Lewis. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, Marion County Public Health Department Virginia Caine, Indianapolis City-County Council President Vop Osili and multiple other city councilors also participated.

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Indianapolis, IN

US police chaplains go through use-of-force training in Indianapolis

Published

46 minutes ago

March 25, 2025

Press Room

US police chaplains go through use-of-force training in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Monday hosted 30 police chaplains from seven states to help them better understand police decisions around the use of force.

The chaplains are part of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and the training aims to provide them with insights into the challenges officers face, which they can take back to their communities.

Sgt. Michael Daley, an IMPD use-of-force instructor, said Monday, “It’s difficult sometimes as an outsider to understand what the individual worker has to go through, and so it’s important for us to know, or to communicate to the chaplains, to tell them the story of what officers face on a daily basis.”

“People come in here with preconceived notions of what the officer is supposed to do and how the officer is supposed to handle those situations, and then, once they see the reality through these simulations of what’s actually involved in human behavior, perspectives change.”

Christopher Holland, a chaplain from the Bargersville Police Department, said, “Actual scenarios that are taking place are kind of true to life, so your blood pressure goes up. Your heart rate goes up. You’re dealing with issues very similar to what you would deal with in the community.”

“It gives me great empathy and it also gives me great understanding about what our officers go through every day, and how they place themselves in the line of danger in very intense situations and they make split-second decisions about it.”

Organizers hope after chaplains return to their communities with a better understanding of police challenges that they will help to improve community relations with police.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis Black Theatre Co. names Tijideen Rowley as interim artistic director

Published

12 hours ago

March 24, 2025

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Indianapolis Black Theatre Co. names Tijideen Rowley as interim artistic director

Two weeks after Founding Artistic Director Ben Rose resigned his post amid charges related to an alleged domestic violence incident, the Indianapolis Black Theatre Co. has named Tijideen Rowley as interim artistic director, according to the theater.

Rowley is the director of training and development for the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant that provides professional theater training at The District Theatre, where IBTC is a resident. The educational hub funded by the grant also offers a platform for developing plays related to Indiana Avenue’s history. Rowley holds a theater degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Boise State University.

Rose resigned March 10 after he was charged with felony strangulation, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor battery resulting in bodily injury on March 5 by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office after a late February incident in which he allegedly attacked a woman at his home.

An initial hearing for the case is scheduled for April 9.

Rose was selected in 2023 as the first artistic director of the new IBTC, a theater that launched with a $1.9 million investment from groups including the Central Indiana Community Foundation and the Lilly Endowment.

Rowley will begin his leadership tenure at the company by reviewing and restructuring the 2025 season with community input, according to the release. After Rose resigned, IBTC postponed the production of “Ain’t No Mo’,” which will now run from June 27 to July 13. Rowley also will focus on longterm growth and artist and community relationships, the theater said in a Sunday night news release.

“IBTC is focused on telling Black stories that challenge, inspire, and unite audiences. As we move forward, my focus is on strengthening our foundations and deepening our connection to the community,” Rowley stated in the release. “My vision, in line with the board, is to elevate IBTC into a marquee theatre company for Black storytelling—one that sets the standard in Indianapolis and beyond.”

IBTC also announced board changes in another release sent Sunday night. Board members Rich Trotman and Ira Mallory have resigned. New appointments include the Rev. Dr. Shonda Nicole Gladden, the District Theatre board’s vice chair and CEO of Good to the Soul, LLC, and Karen Dace, vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at IU Indianapolis.

Senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo contributed to this report.

Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Sign up here for the newsletter she curates about things to do and ways to explore Indianapolis. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.

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Indianapolis, IN

NCAA Tournament 2025 regional tickets, hotels, Airbnb in Indianapolis

Published

24 hours ago

March 24, 2025

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NCAA Tournament 2025 regional tickets, hotels, Airbnb in Indianapolis

Indianapolis will host an NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional at Lucas Oil Stadium on Friday and Sunday, March 28 and 30, 2025. Houston, Purdue, Tennessee and Illinois/Kentucky made the Sweet 16. The last team standing earns a spot in the Final Four, April 5 and 7 in San Antonio.

Here’s how you can secure a ticket and lodging in Indianapolis for the NCAA Tournament regional.

When are the NCAA Tournament games in Indianapolis? When are the NCAA Tournament games at Lucas Oil Stadium?

Tennessee vs. Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. ET Friday, March 28
Houston vs. Purdue, 10:09 p.m. ET Friday, March 28
Regional championship game is Sunday, March 30, time TBA

NCAA Tournament tickets at Lucas Oil Stadium

Buy Sweet 16, Elite 8 tickets

All sessions: Start at $443 on StubHub

Friday, March 28: Starting at $194 on StubHub

Sunday, March 30: Starting at $127 on StubHub

Buy Purdue NCAA Tournament tickets

Lodging for the NCAA Tournament regional in Indianapolis

Rooms start at $95 a night on Expedia

Airbnb for March Madness regional in Indianapolis

Rooms start at $40 on Airbnb

How likely is Houston to win March Madness?

The Houston Cougars (32-4) are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional and have won 15 consecutive games. They own the nation’s best defense, allowing 58.4 points per game and 38.4% shooting. Houston is the nation’s best 3-point shooting team (39.8%), though it doesn’t shoot many, and it protects the ball (9.2 turnovers, 6th fewest). The Cougars were national runners-up in 1983 and ’84 have been to the Final Four seven times, most recently in 2022.

Houston basketball key players

Houston basketball coach

Kelvin Sampson is in his 11th season at Houston and owns a 296-83 record. He previously coached at Washington State, Oklahoma and Indiana.

Houston NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Houston 78, SIU-Edwardsville 40

Second round: Houston 81, Gonzaga 76

Has Purdue basketball ever made the Final Four?

The Purdue Boilermakers reached last season’s national championship game, losing to UConn. They were the national runner-up in 1969 and made the 1980 Final Four at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. The No. 4 Midwest Regional seed lost six of its last nine games leading into the NCAA Tournament but won its March Madness games handily.

Purdue basketball key players

Purdue basketball coach

Matt Painter is in his 20th season at Purdue and owns a 471-214 record. He previously coached at Southern Illinois.

Purdue NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Purdue 75, High Point 53

Second round: Purdue 76, McNeese 62

Has Tennessee ever made it to the Final Four?

The Tennessee Volunteers (29-7) seek their first Final Four trip. Purdue defeated Tennessee in a 2024 regional championship game. The Volunteers finished fourth in the Southeastern Conference, which sent a record 14 teams to March Madness. They have a stingy defense, allowing 62.9 points per game (No. 6 in the nation) and 38.2% shooting (No. 1) and 28.3% 3-point shooting (No. 3). They lost twice to Kentucky this season.

Tennessee men’s basketball NCAA Tournament schedule

First round: Tennessee 77, Wofford 62

Second round: Tennessee 67, UCLA 58

Tennessee basketball coach

Rick Barnes is in his 10th season at Tennessee, and owns a 231-108 record. He previously coached at George Mason, Providence, Clemson and Texas.

Tennessee basketball key players

Why is Kentucky basketball so popular?

The Kentucky Wildcats (24-11) are a true college basketball blue blood, with eight NCAA Tournament championships, second to UCLA. UK last won the title in 2012. This season’s Wildcats average 85.0 points per game (No. 4 in the nation) and have six players averaging in double figures. Their depth shows in their 45-point average in second halves (also No. 4). They have beaten Tennessee twice this season.