Unsolved stray bullet murders in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS – The tragic demise of a 12-year-old boy, who was killed by a stray bullet inside his grandmother’s residence, stays unsolved one 12 months later.

Police nonetheless consider 12-year-old Day’Shawn Payments was taking part in a online game inside his grandmother’s residence on Leland Avenue in Could 2021 when he was hit by a stray bullet fired from exterior the house.

“That’s heartbreaking, simply to know your grandson is taking part in a online game and a bullet is available in and takes his life endlessly,” stated Antonio Patton.

A short while after the capturing the household moved out of the house which stays empty to today, however the household couldn’t depart their emotional scars behind.

“It’s inconceivable for that mom to be the mom she was when Day’Shawn was dwelling,” stated Patton.

Day’Shawn’s demise sparked a big vigil and citywide outrage on the time.  Antonio Patton met and have become mates with the household after the tragedy.  He spoke on their behalf a 12 months later.

“That ache by no means subsides. It by no means goes away. On daily basis they stand up and that ache is there,” stated Patton.

“There isn’t any indication that Day’Shawn was an supposed goal of any bullets,” stated IMPD Captain Roger Spurgeon.

The commander of IMPD’s murder unit says police have uncovered a attainable motive, however admit they’re not near figuring out a suspect.

“We’re a little bit bit additional alongside than we have been the evening it occurred, however removed from the place we have to be to get decision,” stated Spurgeon.

Whereas general murder numbers throughout the town skyrocketed in 2020 and 2021, the variety of murder victims underneath the age of 18 has remained pretty fixed during the last 5 years, with double-digit deaths yearly besides in 2018.

In 2022, nonetheless, Indianapolis is seeing a rise in youth murder victims. As of Could 6, the variety of youth murder victims is double the quantity killed as of the identical day in 2021, and is increased than every other latest 12 months.

The FOX59 crime mapping group took a have a look at youth homicides throughout Indianapolis. They discovered that from 2014-2022, 69 murder victims underneath the age of 18 have died attributable to shootings, making it the commonest method of demise in youth homicides.

Most of these homicides happened in youngsters aged 15-17, the identical demographic that the town is focusing on with its Secure Summer time program.

Having a look at the place the homicides occurred, the Far Eastside and Close to Eastside neighborhoods skilled the brunt of the youth homicides. Throughout the Far Eastside are two census tracts with 4 youth homicides every.

Day’Shawn was considered one of three youth murder victims within the 3601.02 census tract positioned throughout the Arlington Woods neighborhood. He was considered one of 855 individuals underneath the age of 18 dwelling on this space in 2020.

“It’s a giant tear in our coronary heart. It doesn’t heel. I miss my daughter on daily basis,” stated Nikki Cope.

Cope lives only one census tract over within the Arlington Woods neighborhood. She is aware of the ache Day’Shawn’s household is feeling as a result of two years in the past, in Could 2020, a stray bullet tore into her automotive close to the intersection of thirty eighth and Arlington and killed her solely daughter, 16-year-old Nya Cope, who was sitting within the passenger seat subsequent to her mother.

“I consider that evening rather a lot and suppose why me?” stated Cope. “Every evening I cry once I go to mattress, grieving for her and lacking her,” stated Cope.

She was the primary youth murder for this small space of Indianapolis and considered one of 1,203 individuals underneath the age of 18 on this part of Arlington Woods.

Within the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, 8-year-old Rodgerick Payne Junior died in March 2020 when he was hit by a stray bullet whereas consuming dinner inside his residence on Tacoma.

Throughout the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, the 3507 Census Tract was residence to 395 individuals underneath the age of 18 in 2020. That census tract has skilled 2 youth homicides since 2014.

In 2015, 10-year-old Deshaun Swanson was killed following a drive-by capturing at a house in Butler-Tarkington. He was additionally the one youth murder sufferer for the neighborhood since 2014. The census tract the place Swanson lived was residence to 619 individuals underneath the age of 18 in 2020.

No arrests have ever been made for any of the 4 deaths and police admit stray bullet killings are troublesome to unravel with out the general public’s assist.

“It does add a level of issue over and above people who find themselves the supposed goal,” stated Spurgeon.

“The one means we may also help with the violence is for individuals to begin talking up,” stated Cope.

Whereas Crime Stoppers provides a $1,000 reward for data resulting in an arrest in these instances, Nya Cope’s mom says the household elevated the reward in that case to $5,000. Anybody with data can contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.