Indianapolis killings in April 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.
March | April | May
Dennis A. Crawford, 20, killed in early morning shooting on E. 35th Street
April 29: Officers were called to the 7900 block of East 35th Street on the east side of Indianapolis on a report of a person shot around 1 a.m.
They found Dennis Crawford, 20, with gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lead detective: Gregory Shue, Gregory.Shue@indy.gov.
Markes Day, 19, killed and dumped in alley near Brookside Avenue on east side
April 28: The body of a man believed to have been shot and killed in the early morning hours of April 28 was found in an alley.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called shortly after 8 a.m. to the 2000 block of Brookside Avenue near Spades Park about a man lying in an alley. He appeared to have gunshot wounds, Sgt. Genae Cook said, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the man as Markes Day, 19.
Detectives believe the Day was killed sometime overnight in a different location and placed in the alley. Cook said investigators are looking through police reports from the night before to see if they can find any leads connecting them to his death.
Lead detective: Larry Craciunoiu, Larry.Craciunoiu@indy.gov.
Jamar Ward, 18, killed in Broadway Street shooting on city's north side
April 26: Jamar Ward, 18, was killed in a shooting on the north side of Indianapolis in the 3000 block of Broadway Street. Police were called to the scene on a report of a person shot around 10:30 p.m. They found Ward with gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lead detective: Christopher Winter, Christopher.Winter@indy.gov.
Toddler’s body found in Martinsville connected to Indianapolis missing person case
April 21: Indianapolis police discovered the body of a female child in the bottom drawer of a dresser inside a dilapidated house near Martinsville.
They were led to the location by Madison Marshall, while investigating the disappearance of the woman’s toddler-age daughter. Marshall and her boyfriend Roan Waters drove in his Dodge Durango out of Indianapolis until they arrived at a dilapidated house, where they left Oaklee Snow’s body behind, according to police.
That was Feb. 9 − just weeks before Snow's second birthday.
While the remains have not yet been officially identified, the evidence was enough to support a litany of charges filed against Marshall and Waters, including murder and neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
The criminal charges, which were announced by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, appear to mark the end of a national search for Snow that began in Seminole County, Oklahoma and included law enforcement in four states and the FBI.
Prosecutor: Toddler found in a dresser near Martinsville 'suffered a horrific death'
DeMarcus Antonio French, 26, killed in shooting at Beech Grove apartments
April 25: One man is dead after a disturbance in the hallway of a Beech Grove apartment building led to a shooting, according to the Beech Grove Police Department.
Officers were called to the apartments in the 2400 block of Albany Street on a report of a person shot on Tuesday around 9:15 p.m. They found DeMarcus Antonio French, 26, with a gunshot wound in his abdomen. French was transported to a hospital, where he died, according to police.
The shooting occurred in the common hallway of one the apartment buildings and detectives have already spoken with some of the witnesses. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, but there does not appear to be any danger to the public, police said.
'This needs to stop': Man killed in shooting at Beech Grove apartments
Joseph Tyler Potts, 32, dies after shooting at south side smoke shop
April 25: Police are investigating a fatal shooting that took place at a south-side Indianapolis smoke shop. At around 6:30 p.m., police were called to the 3400 block of Madison Avenue on a report of a person shot.
Officers arrived and located Joseph Tyler Potts, 32, with injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. The man was pronounced deceased by medics who arrived at the scene.
At the scene, IMPD officer William Young said preliminary information suggested all people involved were accounted for regarding the shooting.
No charges were filed in the case.
Lead detective: David Miller, David.Miller2@indy.gov.
Damonte R. Parker, 26, killed in shooting outside North Dequincy Street residence
April 23: Officers were called around 1 a.m. to the 3600 block of North Dequincy Street on a report of a person shot. They found Damonte R. Parker, 26, in the front yard of a residence with gunshot injuries.
Parker was pronounced dead at the scene. A person of interest was detained and then released, after consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Kyler Hoover, Kyle.Hoover@indy.gov.
Jaquareous Mitchell, 26, and Jimmy Thomas Jr., 29, die in gas station shooting on North Emerson Avenue
April 22: Officers were dispatched to a gas station in 3400 block of North Emerson Avenue on the east side of Indianapolis on a report of two people shot around 5:30 p.m.
They found two men inside the business with gunshot injuries. Jaquareous Rashawn Tyreik Mitchell, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Jimmy Jermaine Thomas Jr., 29, died after being transported to a hospital.
Homicide detectives have already spoken with multiple witnesses and were attempting to review surveillance video.
On April 26, police announced the arrest of 20-year-old Martice McGee earlier in the day for his alleged role in the case. McGee is facing two counts of murder, police said.
“Detectives believe the person involved in this incident may have a story to share with detectives,” according to a news release from IMPD. “If that person wants to share what occurred, that person is encouraged to call the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or they can call 911.”
Lead detective: Jose Torres, Jose.Torres@indy.gov.
Derrick Marshi Houston Jr., 15, dies in shooting near Breen Drive and Brentwood Avenue
April 20: A teenager is dead and a bus full of students became witnesses to the crime Thursday morning after a shooting on the east side of Indianapolis.
The school bus driver called 911 after she turned from East 38th Street and saw the injured teenager in the grass. He was found near the intersection of Breen Drive and Brentwood Avenue in a residential area.
The teenager was identified as Derrick Marshi Houston Jr., 15.
Officers were dispatched around 6:30 a.m. Houston was transported to a hospital in critical condition, where he died.
Houston was a student at Arsenal Technical High School, according to a statement from Indianapolis Public Schools.
About 20 students were on the bus when the driver stopped to call 911. The students were kept on the scene for a couple hours then were picked up by parents or transported to school on a different bus, said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer Samone Burris.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
Lead detective: Ryan Clark, Ryan.Clark@Indy.gov.
'Enough is enough': Teen killed in shooting found by bus driver, students
Michael Shoffner, 43, killed in shooting on Dexter Street
April 20: Officers were called to the 2100 block of Dexter Street on a report of a person shot just before 5:30 a.m. They found a man in the middle of the street with gunshot injuries, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was identified as Michael Shoffner, 43.
There is no known threat to the public, but no arrest has been made in connection with the killing.
Lead detective: Douglas Swails, Douglas.Swails@Indy.gov.
Randy Darrell Hinkle, 34, killed in shooting on Beckwith Drive
April 19: Officers were called for shots being fired near the 2400 block of Beckwith Drive on the north side of Indianapolis around 11 p.m.
They found Randy Darrell Hinkle, 34, with gunshot injuries. He was transported to a hospital, where he died.
Lead detective: Dustin Keedy, Dustin.Keedy@indy.gov.
David Gladney, 54, killed in shooting on North Emerson Avenue
April 17: Officers responded to the 3400 block of North Emerson Avenue — near East 34th Street — on the east side of Indianapolis for a report of a person shot around 6:30 a.m.
They found David Gladney, 54, with gunshot injuries. He was transported to a hospital then pronounced dead.
Detectives believe a disturbance occurred between Gladney and an unknown person in the 2800 block of North Stuart Street.
Lead detective: Chris Craighill, Chris.Craighill@indy.gov.
Brian Jackson, 45, dies in shooting near 38th Street and N. Franklin Road
April 16: Indianapolis police responded to East 38th Street and North Franklin Road about 3 a.m. to a report about a person shot. Brian Jackson, 45, was found inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
No arrest has been made in the killing.
Lead detective: Gary Toms, gary.toms@indy.gov.
Daniel Martinez, 30, dies, another injured after overnight shooting
April 15: Officers responded to IU Health University Hospital about 3:30 a.m. on a report of a person shot. They found two men in a vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The men were transported to the nearby Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, where Daniel Martinez, 30, was pronounced dead. The other person shot was in stable condition.
Police said preliminary information initially suggested the shooting may have occurred near West 38th Street and Lafayette Road, but a crime scene was not immediately found.
Lead detective: Ronald Sayles, Ronald.Sayles@indy.gov.
Jersey Castner, 18, and Jessica Nicole Cruz, 33, die in shooting at home near Brookside Park
April 14: Just after 4 a.m. officers patrolling the area of Brookside Park heard several gunshots and within minutes received information that someone was shot in the 3000 block of Brookside Parkway South Drive.
Arriving officers found three people with gunshot wounds.
The first, a teen male, was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Jessica Nicole Cruz, 33, was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died after arriving.
Jersey Castner, 18, died at the scene.
Based on early evidence, detectives believe that at least one person forced entry into the residence and that there were additional shots fired into the home from outside. Several children were inside the home at the time shots were fired but they were unharmed.
Lead detective: Connie Pearson, Connie.Pearson@indy.gov.
Terrence Dashawn Winston-Campbell, 23, dies in shooting at East Washington Street gas station
April 12: Terrence Dashawn Winston-Campbell, 23, was shot and killed at a gas station on the city's east side.
About 8:55 p.m. officers responded to the gas station at the intersection of East Washington Street and North Hamilton Avenue and found Winston-Campbell in critical condition. He was taken to the hospital but died shortly after arriving.
Police did not say what led to the shooting or if they'd identified the shooter.
Lead detective: Christopher Higgins, Christopher.Higgins@indy.gov
Christopher Lamar Porter, 36, found fatally shot in alley near West 10th Street
April 10: Christopher Lamar Porter, 36, was found fatally shot in an alley after officers were called to the 2600 block of West 10th Street shortly before 4:30 a.m. He died at the scene.
Detectives believe the shooting happened sometime during the night.
Lead detective: James Hurt, James.Hurt@Indy.gov.
Cameron Miles Tibbs, 24, fatally shot on McIntosh Lane in Lawrence
April 8: LAWRENCE - Cameron Miles Tibbs, 24, was shot and killed Saturday night at a Lawrence apartment complex east of Interstate 465.
Officers found Tibbs around 9 p.m. suffering from a gunshot wound at the complex in the 7100 block of McIntosh Lane. Tibbs was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lawrence Police Department said they have a person of interest in custody. Police said it was an isolated event and the individuals knew each other.
More: Man killed in shooting at Lawrence apartment complex
Jyir Billups, 22, dies in shooting on North Emerson Avenue
April 7: Just before 11 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 3400 block of North Emerson Avenue near East 34th Street about a person shot. Arriving officers found Jyir Billups, 22, with gunshot wounds and he was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
Lead detective: Michael Wright, email Michael.Wright@indy.gov
More: IMPD investigating east side homicide
Zyon Brooks, 17, dies in shooting near 42nd Street and Post Road
April 5: Officers were called roughly 4:30 a.m. about a person shot in the 10000 block of Pendleton Pike on the northeast side of Indianapolis. Lawrence medics took Zyon Brooks, 17, in critical condition to a hospital where he died shortly after arriving.
An early investigation by detectives indicated the shooting occurred in the 4100 block of Mt. Vernon Court, about 2 miles southeast of where they were dispatched. Officials said a person helped Brooks by taking him to a gas station on Pendleton Pike and remained there until emergency medical personnel arrived.
Lead detective: Steven Gray, steven.gray@indy.gov
Farrenquai Bailey, 51, dies after shooting on North Gray Street
March 30: Just before midnight officers responded to a report of shots fired in the 600 block of North Gray Street on the east side of Indianapolis. Officers found Farrenquai Bailey, 51, inside a residence with gunshot injuries and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lead detective: Gregory Shue, Douglas.Morning@indy.gov.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis killings in April 2023
