Deadly stabbing hits close to home for downtown Indy businesses

INDIANAPOLIS – Officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department say a fight likely led to a deadly stabbing in downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday evening.

The stabbing occurred at a gas station located a block from Lucas Oil Stadium. Now, local businesses said they’re concerned and hope people keep coming to the area.

“It’s great being here,” said Daniel Ahlbrand, the owner of Empire Street Bar and Grille. “Business is obviously here, plenty of happy people roaming the streets.”

Empire Street Bar and Grille’s location could not be better. It’s half a block away from Lucas Oil Stadium, making football Sundays its cash cow, as well as every convention and sporting event that comes through town.  

“Football Sundays, conventions. Right now we have FFA going on. We have a couple groups now from the FFA convention, so it’s great being here,” said Ahlbrand.

But while the backside of the bar has the Colts in close proximity, a deadly stabbing happened across the street from the front of the bar.

Business was back to usual at the gas station Thursday morning following the Wednesday night stabbing. Police were called to the Speedway gas station at Kentucky Avenue and South West Street at about 10:30 p.m.

Police say two men got into an argument, and it escalated into a fight. Police say the aggressor in that argument was killed. They say the other man was likely acting in self-defense. That man is recovering in the hospital.

“Unfortunately, it sounds like I’m a broken record, but conflict resolution,” said Captain Don Weilhammer of IMPD. “Walk away. Taking someone’s life is definitely not worth it.”

Empire Street was not open at the time of the stabbing. Ahlbrand says despite some recent incidents, this is not a bad area.

“It does hurt when stuff like that happens, but at the end of the day, the people who come down here, the people who live down here know it’s not the landscape it’s painted to be,” said Ahlbrand.

Police are asking people to come forward if they know something. You can call Crimestoppers at 317-262-TIPS