Despite 2 recent deadly shootings, IMPD reports large decline in homicides to start 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — Police are investigating a pair of deadly shootings on Thursday that left two people dead. One incident occurred on the south side, the other on the west side.

Despite that violence, IMPD reports there has been a significant drop in homicides citywide so far this year.

Just a few minutes after midnight, behind a business near Madison Avenue and Stop 11 Road, a man was found shot and died after being rushed to the hospital. That deadly shooting marked the 49th homicide of the year in Indianapolis.

That case, combined with a fatal shooting Thursday afternoon on the west side, brings the number of killings through the first 4 months of the year in Indianapolis to 50.

That is down by double digits compared to the 71 deaths on the same date last year and is the lowest by a wide margin since 2019. IMPD credits community partnerships for that decline.

“We don’t do this alone. This is a community and police effort together,” said IMPD Officer Tommy Thompson.

“When we’re all working together, I tell you those numbers will continue to go down,” said reverend Malachi Walker.

Reverend Walker already has 45 kids signed up to take part in his annual youth summer camp with Young Men Inc. This year, he plans to include a week-long gun violence prevention workshop. The camp begins next month and still has 30 spots open for more kids to register.

Walker urges parents to make sure their kids have something to do over the summer to avoid getting into trouble.

“Parents, I plead to you, get your sons and daughters involved in some type of program,” said Walker. “We really want to educate our young children about the dangers and consequences of gun violence.”

“It’s that collaborative effort that continues to drive those numbers downward,” said Thompson.

For their part, IMPD promises to continue getting illegally possessed guns off the streets because police believe holding repeat offenders accountable is critical to reducing violent crime.

“The IMPD is going to remain laser-focused and find people who continue to commit crimes in the city and we won’t stop until we drive those numbers further and further down,” said Thompson.

Just over half of this year’s homicides remain unsolved. Anyone with information on any unsolved case can contact either IMPD’s Homicide Office or Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS.