Crime Guns Task Force helps drive down violence in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — By targeting illegally possessed guns, drugs and repeat violent offenders, police in Indianapolis said they’re reducing violent crime.

Sitting inside a U-Haul van parked behind an apartment building on East Washington, 61-year-old Ryan McClellan was found shot to death Thursday night.

While the motive for that murder remains unclear, the deadly shooting marked the 43rd homicide of the year.

The number of homicides in Indianapolis is the lowest since 2019.

Police said that this decrease is no coincidence.

“Most of the violent crime rate is down right now,” said IMPD Lt. Jered Hidlebaugh. “They’re really putting a dent in that by taking the illegal offenders off the streets and that’s making those rates go down.”

Lt. Hidlebaugh said over the first three months of the year the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force has seized 115 illegally possessed firearms, as well as large amounts of marijuana, meth and fentanyl.

“We’re really put a dent in some of the firearms trafficking that’s occurring throughout the city,” said Hidlebaugh.

At the same time, the task force has seen an increase in machine gun conversion devices. 167 have been seized this year, many of which can be easily made.

“A lot of those are being 3D printed here locally. They’re not coming in from out state or out of the country. They’re being 3D printed here in Indianapolis and we’re trying to make a dent in those, because those are a big issue on the street right now,” said Hidlebaugh.

In addition to IMPD, the task force includes Avon, Beech Grove, Fishers, Lawrence, Zionsville, State Police and more, because the goal is to prevent violence not just in Indianapolis but across central Indiana.

“One thing that is absolutely true is crime does not know jurisdictional boundaries,” said Zionsville police chief Michael Spears.

“If you’re a violent offender who is carrying a firearm on the streets of Indianapolis or the surrounding counties, we’re going to come get you. You don’t get a free pass,” said Hidlebaugh.

So far this year, the task force has made 75 state arrests along with six federal cases.

Along with the regional task force, each IMPD district has a Violence Reduction Team and a Violent Crimes Task Force.

Because no one has been arrested for the homicide Thursday night on Washington, anyone with information about this incident should call Detective Steven Gray at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or e-mail the detective at Steven.Gray@indy.gov. 

Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477 or (TIPS) to remain anonymous.