Indianapolis killings in June 2023
After three years of seeing more than 200 homicides annually, IndyStar is tracking each killing to better understand violence in the city and remember the victims. This list is preliminary, and the number of homicides can change as authorities investigate the circumstances of each case, determining whether the slaying was criminal, justified, accidental or suicide. IndyStar has excluded cases ruled accidents, suicides, fatal overdoses or hit-and-run deaths unless they were deemed intentional. This information is compiled using data from Indianapolis police, court records and interviews with family and friends of those killed. Anyone with information that could help a homicide investigation is asked to call the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 to remain anonymous.
Are we missing information? Email Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com or Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com.
Kenneth Lee Barnett Jr., 23, fatally shot on East 21st Street
June 27: IMPD East District officers were called just before 3 p.m. to the 6800 block of E. 21st Street on a report of a person shot. After they arrived, police found Kenneth Lee Barnett Jr. with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services pronounced the 23-year-old deceased at the scene.
Lead detective: Anthony Johnson, Anthony.Johnson@indy.gov
Robert Lee Branson III, 19, dies weeks after shooting on South High School Road
June 26: Weeks after Robert Lee Branson III arrived at a hospital with critical gunshot wounds the 19-year-old succumbed to his injuries.
Just before 1 a.m. June 11 officers received information about gunshots at Krannert Park, 605 South High School Road. Officers found evidence of a shooting but didn't find anyone injured.
Soon after police learned that Branson had arrived at a local hospital. The shooting remains under investigation.
Lead detective: Douglas Morning, Douglas.Morning@indy.gov.
Bomani Marsh, 25, killed in shooting on Indianapolis' north side
June 25: Officers were called to the 2700 block of Dr. MLK Jr. Street on a report of a person shot around 10 p.m. They found Bomani Marsh, 25, with gunshot wounds and he was transported to a hospital.
Marsh died at the hospital.
Lead detective: Connie Pearson, Connie.Pearson@indy.gov.
Jordyn Cheyenne Pierce, 24, shot and killed on North Tremont Street in Haughville neighborhood
June 25: Officers responded to the 500 block of North Tremont Street on a report of a person shot just before 8 p.m. They found a woman with gunshot wounds and she was transported to a hospital.
The woman died at the hospital. She was identified as Jordyn Cheyenne Pierce, 24.
Lead detective: Shem Ragsdale, Shem.Ragsdale@indy.gov
Three dead, one injured in Broad Ripple shooting
June 25: Shortly after 2 a.m., police reported finding four people with gunshot wounds in the 800 block of Broad Ripple Avenue near Guilford Avenue.
A man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene, and another man and woman were taken to hospitals in serious condition. The man taken to the hospital later died.
Police at the scene told Fox59 that a disturbance likely preceded the shooting and that up to 500 people were in the area when gunshots rang out.
The three people killed were identified as 24-year-old Tywain Henning, 22-year-old Kaleyia Preer and 22-year-old Christopher Lee Wilson Jr.
Lead detective: James Hurt, James.Hurt@indy.gov
More: Broad Ripple Village seeks gun-free zone designation for weekends after deadly shooting
Bryton Paul Wilmot, 29, killed in Beech Grove shooting
June 24: BEECH GROVE − A person was fatally shot about 12:45 p.m. in Beech Grove.
The suspect in the shooting returned to the scene and was found with a handgun, leading to a quick arrest on Saturday, according to court documents.
Antwan Palmer, 36, is now facing a preliminary charge of murder in connection with the shooting death of 29-year-old Bryton Paul Wilmot. The shooting took place outside an apartment building in the 2400 block of Bischoff Drive around 1 p.m.
A witness told Beech Grove detectives that 30 minutes before the shooting, officers were called to the apartments for a disturbance involving Palmer and his girlfriend, according to the probable cause affidavit for Palmer’s arrest.
Court records: Suspect in deadly Beech Grove shooting returned to scene before arrest
Samanta Yaqueline Lucas, 19, shot and killed on Concord Street in Haughville neighborhood
June 24: Clothing and what appeared to be a wig laid on the pavement as police investigated the fatal shooting of a woman on the city’s west side.
Officers were called to the shooting about 12:30 p.m. in the 700 block of North Concord Street near West 10th Street and North Tibbs Avenue. They were called to the Haughville neighborhood on a report of a person shot.
Additional calls came in for a person down in the area, said IMPD officer William Young. Officers found the woman with gunshot wounds, and they worked with residents on the scene to provide her aid until emergency medical services arrived.
The woman was taken to a hospital, where she died. She was identified as Samanta Yaqueline Lucas, 19.
No suspect was in custody as of Saturday afternoon.
“It's a relatively close-knit neighborhood so we are hoping that someone will come forward with any information they might have,” Young said.
The shooting took place in a residential area. As police investigated, a child sat with two women on the front lawn of a home not far from the crime scene tape. Other neighbors watched from their front porches as police gathered evidence.
Dennis K. Fowler, 58, found fatally shot in car near vacant house on North Dearborn Street
June 22: Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found fatally shot inside a car parked on a vacant lot near an alley. A house near where the 2004 Dodge was found also is vacant.
Dennis K. Fowler, 58, was found by responding officers at about 4:15 a.m. in the driver's seat of the vehicle in the 500 block of North Dearborn Street, near East Michigan Street between North Rural Street and North Sherman Drive.
Lead detective: Steven Gray, steven.gray@indy.gov
Marcus A. Morman, 41, found dead between vehicles on Norwaldo Avenue
June 20: Marcus A. Morman, 41, was found dead on the north side of Indianapolis after officers were dispatched to a residential area on a report of a person down around 9 a.m.
Morman had gunshot injuries and was pronounced dead in the 4400 block of Norwaldo Avenue. He was found between two cars that were parked on the street.
"We need our community's assistance to figure out what took place and so that we can get our victim some justice,” said IMPD officer Samone Burris at the scene.
Investigators took photos and placed evidence markers in the street as a group of neighbors gathered behind crime scene tape to watch. Several neighbors said they heard gunshots the night before and that it wasn’t uncommon in the area.
“There were no previous reports of shots fired that we received,” Burris said. “We just want to give the community a reminder, when you hear gunshots or something you believe could be gunshots, please contact 911 immediately. We won't know about these incidents unless somebody gives us a call and contacts 911.”
Burris said detectives have limited information on the shooting and are asking neighbors with information or footage from security cameras or doorbells to come forward.
“We can't do it by ourselves,” Burris said. “It takes our community to hold each other accountable. When an individual decides to pick up a gun, or any weapon of any type, and use it violently against another person nobody wins. Everybody loses."
Lead detective: Larry Craciunoiu, Larry.Craciunoiu@indy.gov
Jeremiah Lewis, 15, dies in shooting on Lohr Drive
June 18: Jeremiah Lewis, 15, died after a shooting in the 2000 block of Lohr Drive on Sunday morning.
Around 9:45 a.m., Lewis was found dead inside a red SUV that struck a mailbox and crashed into another car in the driveway of a home. Paramedics found he had injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
Detectives are asking neighbors to review their security camera footage from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Sunday for any cars or people leaving the scene.
Lead detective: Christopher Edwards, christopher.edwards@indy.gov
'My son died for no reason': Indy mother questions bail system after 15-year-old son killed
Ashyne Lee James, 17, dies after fatal shooting at Lawrence apartment complex
June 17: LAWRENCE — Ashyne Lee James, 17, died after a shooting early Saturday morning in Lawrence.
At about 5:20 a.m. Saturday, dispatchers received a 911 call after gunshots rang out at an apartment complex in the 5800 block of Beatle Drive. Officers with the Lawrence Police Department found a 17-year-old male whom medics pronounced deceased. Investigators soon learned gunfire had pierced the wall of a nearby apartment and injured another 17-year-old male.
"He received a graze wound to the head and was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in good condition," said LPD Sgt. Matthew Miller.
Police are still searching for a suspect.
Wayne Allen Nalley, 29, dies in shooting on North Spencer Avenue on city's east side
June 15: Just before 4 a.m. police were dispatched to a person shot call in the 2000 block of North Spencer Avenue, near the intersection of E. 21st Street and Emerson Avenue on the city's east side.
Arriving officers found Wayne Allen Nalley, 29, dead from gunshot injuries inside the residence. It wasn't immediately known who called police or how the shooting unfolded. Police were using drones to help search the area for clues, Fox59 reported.
Officers arrested a man shortly after the shooting.
Lead detective: Gregory Shue, gregory.shue@indy.gov
Fotiukia Machi Scott, 19, dies in Cumberland shooting
June 13: Cumberland police were called 9:20 p.m. about a possible shooting near Taftwood and Wickerwood drives. Responding officers found Fotiukia Machi Scott with at least one gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel took him in critical condition to a hospital, where he died two days later.
Detectives said an early investigation indicates shots were fired from more than one firearm at the scene.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Cumberland police at 317-894-3525.
Justin Lamont Burrell, 35, dies in shooting on Station Street
June 9: Officers were called to a home in the 2900 block of Station Street around 9 p.m. They found a man in critical condition with gunshot injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No arrest has been made and police have not released any information on a suspect or suspects.
As of June 10, at least 100 people have been killed in homicides so far in 2023 in Indianapolis. Of those, at least 84 people died in criminal homicides, which does not include accidental or self-defense killings.
Lead detective: Dustin Keedy, Dustin.Keedy@Indy.gov
Jeffrey Dean Davis's death declared homicide two months after domestic fight
June 7: Two months after a man died after a fight with a family member, his death was declared a homicide by investigators.
Jeffrey Dean Davis, 61, was hospitalized after the fight on May 31 at a home in the 3500 block of North Capitol Avenue. Davis died a few days later on June 7 at Community East Hospital.
The coroner’s office determined Davis' death was a homicide on Aug. 11 and ruled his cause of death to be blunt force injuries to his head. Homicide detectives are investigating and have identified the people involved in the fight. The case is under investigation and will be presented to the prosecutor’s office for a charging decision.
Michael Hess, 33, dies in shooting on North Kenyon Street
June 7: Officers were called to the 2400 block of North Kenyon Street on a report of a person shot around 3 p.m. They found Michael Hess, 33, with gunshot injuries.
Hess died at a local hospital.
On July 25 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.
Lead detective: Stephanie Herr, Stephanie.Herr2@Indy.gov
More: East side slaying of Indianapolis man left adults running to shield children from gunfire
Tytrail Dentaie Watkins, 24, dies in overnight shooting at East 10th Street apartments across from IMPD training facility
June 6: Officers were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 9100 block of East 10th Street near South Post Road on the east side of Indianapolis just before midnight on a report of a person shot. They found Tytrail Dentaie Watkins, 24, with gunshot wounds at the complex.
Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene. No arrest or suspect information was immediately announced.
The shooting took place across the street from the Indianapolis Marion County Public Safety Training Facility.
Lead detective: Detective Christopher Winter, Christopher.Winter@Indy.gov
Jordan Chatman, 26, dies from injuries after 2021 shooting
June 4: Nearly two years after being shot, Jordan Chatman died from his injuries.
The shooting occurred shortly after 1 a.m. on July 13, 2021 on the northeast side of the city. Indianapolis police responded to the 4300 block of Arborcrest Drive where they found three men with gunshot wounds. A fourth person who had been shot was found roughly a mile and a half away.
Chatman, one of the victims, was taken to a hospital in critical condition. On June 4, 2023, he died from his injuries.
Avery Lamont Turner, 54, dies of gunshot injuries on N. Pershing Avenue
June 4: Officers were called just after 1 a.m. to the 500 block of N. Pershing Avenue in the Haughville neighborhood west of downtown.
Police were notified that Turner had injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lead detective: Douglas Swails, Douglas.swails@indy.gov
Melisa Hansboro, 54, dies in shooting on Spruce Street
June 1: Officers were called to the 1700 block of Spruce Street on the city's east side about 9:15 p.m. where Melisa Hansboro was found dead inside a home.
Police found Hansboro unresponsive with traumatic injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene and detectives learned the injuries were from gunshots.
Investigators spoke with “involved parties” and on July 31 arrested Jerry Lewis, 64, in the case.
Lead detective: Kyle Hoover, Kyle.Hoover@Indy.gov
More: Indianapolis grandmother fatally shot in the back of the neck; police make arrest in case
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis killings in June 2023
