East side slaying of Indianapolis man left adults running to shield children from gunfire
It was supposed to be a fun day at the movies. Michael Hess, 33, was picking up his nephew for an afternoon outing when police say a woman stepped out of a white Chrysler 200 and gunned him down in the middle of the street.
A little after 3 p.m. June 7, Hess pulled his white Chevy Malibu into the 2400 block of N. Kenyon Street to pick up his 9-year-old nephew. Moments later, witnesses say gunshots rang out, sending people fleeing for cover as adults rushed to shield nearby children from stray bullets.
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Hess was rushed to Eskenazi Hospital where he underwent immediate surgery, court documents state. He died hours later.
On Tuesday, police arrested Monique Cooley, 30, for her alleged role in Hess' death. Investigators believe a handgun taken from Cooley's sister may have factored into his fatal shooting.
Detectives with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department began speaking to witnesses shortly after Hess died in the hospital. Hess' wife told police she received an earlier phone call informing her that Cooley had shot her husband, according to a probable cause affidavit for Cooley's arrest.
Cooley had sold her sister a gun, Hess' wife told detectives, a firearm her sister allegedly still owed money for. Both she and Hess had taken the gun away from Cooley's sister due to "mental health issues," the affidavit stated.
Cooley may have thought that Hess still had possession of the gun, she told police.
Detectives obtained Cooley's cellphone records, which placed her in the vicinity and the time Hess was shot, court documents state. A witness told investigators a white car with two people in it was following Hess on June 7 when he pulled over to pick up his nephew.
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A witness traveling to a job site told police he saw a Black female driving a white sedan stop the car in the middle of the road, before getting out and waving a gun, the affidavit states.
Detectives obtained cellphone records of Cooley's phone, placing her in Kenosha, Wisconsin soon after Hess died.
Online court records show Cooley is facing a murder charge. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make the final charging decision.
Anyone with information about this case can reach Detective Stephanie Herr at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or by email at Stephanie.Herr2@Indy.gov.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis gun crime: Michael Hess killed in shooting, 1 arrested
