12-year-old’s shooting death in Cumberland now ruled a homicide

CUMBERLAND, Ind. — Cumberland police have launched a homicide investigation after a 12- year-old died in a shooting last week that was initially thought to be accidental.

The Cumberland Police Department announced Monday afternoon that it is now investigating the shooting death of 12-year-old Jeremiah Cotton as a homicide.

According to previous reports, officers responded on June 27 around 1 a.m. to the 11500 block of Dunshire Drive in Cumberland after receiving reports that a person was possibly shot in the area. Officers arrived on the scene and located Cotton suffering from a gunshot wound.

Police immediately began providing life-saving measures until the Indiana Fire Department and Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene.

Cotton was transported to Riley Hospital, where he later died. At the time, the incident marked the second shooting involving a juvenile in the last nine days in Marion County.

As the investigation into the fatal shooting unfolded, detectives met and spoke with four witnesses ranging in age between 15 and 18.

CPD said the witnesses were inside the residence when the shooting occurred and initially told police that the victim had died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police were told that a 16-year-old had brought the gun into the apartment before Cotton picked it up and the weapon accidentally went off.

However, a medical examination conducted by the Marion County Coroner’s Office found that Cotton could not have died from a self-inflicted injury and classified Cotton’s death as a homicide.

As of this article’s publication, evidence is continuing to be collected and processed before the case is presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. MCPO will make final charging decisions. No arrests have been made in connection to the case.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact CPD at (317) 894-3525 or email CMPDInvestigations@Cumberland.in.gov. Citizens can also contact CrimeStoppers of Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS.