Man arrested for alleged involvement in 4 separate shootings in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — A 20-year-old Indianapolis man is in jail and accused of firing shots into four different homes and wounding one person during a series of shootings.

Mekhi Bryant, 20, was charged with Battery with a Deadly Weapon along with multiple counts of Criminal Recklessness.

According to officers, at approximately 3 a.m. on Jan. 16, officials responded to the 2100 block of Waterford Place on the report of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers found a man with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. The victim said he was watching a movie with other family members when bullets tore through the front door and hit him in the foot.

On that same night, IMPD responded to three additional locations on reports of shots fired into three separate homes.

The shootings damaged a duplex on West 33rd Street, another home on West 34th Street and a home on West Walnut.

“This behavior puts so many people at risk,” said IMPD officer Tommy Thompson. “They’re just reckless and dangerous, and doesn’t need to be happening within our community.”

During the investigation of the homes, officers noticed that a specific caliber of bullet was used in all four cases.

Court records claim multiple witnesses also assisted police and helped identify Bryant as the alleged shooter.

The Violent Crimes Unit of IMPD located Bryant this past Thursday in the 3800 block of N. High School Road. Bryant was found with a firearm that was confirmed to be the same caliber as the bullets found at each shooting. Bryant was arrested after an interview with detectives.

“We need the community. It takes a partnership,” said Thompson. “That collaborative effort yielded what we want — to remove people committing reckless violent acts within our community.”

According to the initial affidavit, one witness told police Bryant was mad because the victims had kicked him out of an unnamed group that night.

Whatever the motive, police said shooting dozens of bullets into at least four homes is no way to settle a dispute.

“Again we have to go back to our conflict resolution discussions. Using a firearm recklessly and shooting that into homes, residences and businesses is not tolerable,” said Thompson.

The suspect is due in court for an initial hearing later this week. Ultimately it will be up to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to file formal charges in the case.

Jesse Wells contributed to this report.