Indianapolis killings in January 2024
IndyStar is tracking each killing to better understand violence in the city. This list is preliminary, and the number of homicides can change as authorities investigate 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.
Public safety news | February homicides
Brian Anthony Hendricks, 31, found dead inside boarded-up house on Collier Street
Jan. 29: Brian Anthony Hendricks, 31, was found dead inside a boarded-up house on the southwest side of Indianapolis after police received multiple reports of a person shot.
Investigators were called to the 3200 block of Collier Street around 4 p.m. and found Hendricks inside with gunshot injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police announced Feb. 9 that 36-year-old Billy Crawford was arrested in Hendricks' death.
Neighbors watched as police collected evidence outside the home with wooden boards on its front door and windows. Investigators were working to determine who owned the house, IMPD officer William Young said from the scene. Property tax records online indicate the home is owned by Horizon Trust Co. out of South St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jon Mitchell, who has lived across the street from the house for almost two years, said the boarded-up home has brought problems to the neighborhood before.
Mitchell tried to contact the owner to purchase and fix the house, but they never got back to him. The house has caught fire, causing damage to a neighboring home, and attracted squatters the past couple of years, Mitchell said.
"I just hope they do something with it now,” Mitchell said. “It needs to be torn down. The roof is gone, siding is gone. People around here are trying to do what they can to make things better. We don't want these types of problems here."
Lead detective: Jose Torres, 317-327-3475
Shannon Juanita Lassere, 58, dies from trauma on North Mitthoefer Road
Jan. 27: Officers found Shannon Juanita Lassere, 58, suffering trauma at 9:20 a.m. in a parking lot at 2200 N. Mitthoefer Road after responding to a call about a person down.
Lassere was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police did not release details about the slaying or potential suspects.
Lead detective: Ryan Clark, ryan.clark@indy.gov
Julius Kende Parker Jr., 19, found dead in car on Spring Wind Lane
Jan. 26: About 7:45 p.m. officers responded to a call about a person shot in the 3300 block of Spring Wind Lane. When police arrived they found Julius Kende Parker Jr., 19, shot inside the driver's seat of a vehicle parked on the street.
Parker died at the scene. No arrests or suspect information has been released.
Lead detective: Lottie Patrick, lottie.patrick@indy.gov
More: IMPD investigates two fatal shootings Friday night
Ralpheal ONeal Dorsey, 34, dies on North College Avenue sidewalk after shooting
Jan. 26: About 10:45 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of North College Avenue about a person shot. Arriving officers found Ralpheal ONeal Dorsey, 34, on the sidewalk with gunshot injuries.
Dorsey died at the scene. No arrests or suspect information has been released.
Lead detective: Kyle Hoover, kyle.hoover@indy.gov.
More: IMPD investigates two fatal shootings Friday night
Tavion L. Taylor, 21, dies after shooting on Tremont Street
Jan. 25: A shooting was reported about 7:30 p.m. inside a home in the 1000 block of North Tremont Street, on the west side of Indianapolis.
Responding police officers found Tavion L. Taylor, 21, inside the home critically injured from a gunshot wound. Medics took him to a hospital, where he died. No suspects have been announced in the case.
Lead detective: TyAnn Lambert, TyAnn.Lambert@indy.gov
Kallen Dixon, 24, killed in shooting on Sugar Grove Avenue
Jan. 19: Police responded about 3:30 a.m. to the 1600 block of Sugar Grove Avenue on the north side side of Indianapolis about a report of a person shot at a hotel.
They found a man and a woman outside with gunshot wounds. The man was taken in critical condition to a hospital, where he died. The woman arrived at a hospital and is in stable condition.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the man killed as 24-year-old Kallen Dixon.
Lead detective: James Hurt, James.Hurt@indy.gov
Alfred Wombles, 44, killed in shooting on North Kenwood Avenue
Jan. 18: Officers responded to the 3300 block of North Kenwood Avenue on the north side of the city on a report of a person shot around 6:30 a.m.
They found a man, identified as 44-year-old Alfred Wombles, with gunshot injuries outside. Wombles was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
One person, believed to be responsible for the shooting, was detained at the scene. After consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, the individual was released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Ronald Sayles, Ronald.Sayles@indy.gov
Shooting on Foxtail Drive leaves 55-year-old William Q. Ray dead
Jan. 14: Officers responded to the 3600 block of Foxtail Drive around 4 a.m. on a report of a person shot. They found 55-year-old William Q. Ray inside a residence with gunshot injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe a disturbance occurred before the shooting.
One person, who police believe was responsible for the shooting, was detained then released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Christopher Winter, Christopher.Winter@indy.gov.
Kason Dixon, 25, dies after arriving at hospital with gunshot wounds
Jan. 13: At approximately 12:30 a.m., officers responded to Community East Hospital, on a report of a walk-in person shot. They found a man with gunshot injuries.
The man was pronounced dead by medical staff and later identified as 25-year-old Kason Dixon. Investigators believe the shooting occurred near East 21st Street and North Shadeland Avenue, where a crime scene was located.
Lead detective: Christopher Morgan, Christopher.Morgan@indy.gov.
Jason Brookshire, 23, dies in shooting on Autumn Woods Drive
Jan. 12: Officers responded to the 8900 block of Autumn Woods Drive around 7:30 p.m. on a report of a person shot.
They found a man in the courtyard of an apartment complex on the ground with gunshot injuries. He died at a hospital and multiple people were detained at the scene.
The man killed was identified as 23-year-old Jason Brookshire.
Investigators believe a disturbance occurred before the shooting. One of the detained individuals is believed to be the person responsible for the shooting, but they were released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Anthony Johnson, Anthony.Johnson@indy.gov.
Mary Sims, 77, found dead inside residence on Landola Lane
Jan. 12: Police responded to the 2900 block of Landola Lane on the southwest side of the city around 5:30 p.m. on a disturbance report. Officers found an unresponsive woman with trauma inside a home.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified as 77-year-old Mary Sims.
Officers detained 18-year-old Zakii Dawson as a person of interest. He was arrested in connection with the death, police announced the day after the killing.
Sims and Dawson knew each other, according to investigators.
Lead detective: David Miller David.Miller2@indy.gov
Britney Danielle Long, 27, dies in shooting on Euclid Avenue
Jan 10: Police responded to the 2900 block of North Euclid Avenue on the east side of the city on a report of a person shot.
They found 27-year-old Britney Danielle Long with a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital with grave injuries and died four days later.
Her fiancé, 32-year-old Jomal Tyler, was taken into custody after police say he told investigators he left his gun on their bed and it "went off" while they slept. In court records, police noted the Indiana Department of Child Services had open assessments of domestic violence against the couple.
More: Man arrested after fiancée shot in head
Shooting on Barrington Avenue leaves Rondre Jackson, 19, dead
Jan. 7: Officers responded to the 2700 block of Barrington Avenue on the southeast side of the city on a report of a person shot.
They found a man outside with gunshot injuries, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as 19-year-old Rondre Jackson.
Lead detective: Douglas Swails, Douglas.Swails@indy.gov
Corey Gilbert Brown, 35, killed in downtown shooting on East Washington Street
Jan. 5: Officers responded to the 200 block of East Washington Street downtown on a report of a person shot around 10 p.m.
They found 35-year-old Corey Gilbert Brown with gunshot injuries and he was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. Brown was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Lead detective: Gary Smith, Gary.Smith@indy.gov
Derrick Curtis Perry II, 32, killed, one person detained in shooting at northeast side apartments
Jan. 4: Officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of Lakeshore Place on the northeast side of the city a report of a person shot around 10:15 p.m.
They found a man in the common area of an apartment building with gunshot injuries. The man, identified as 32-year-old Derrick Curtis Perry II, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives detained a person they believe is responsible for the shooting who was later released pending further investigation.
The person detained and Perry know each other, according to the police, but their relationship has not been confirmed.
Lead detective: James Hurt, James.Hurt@indy.gov
Damon Lamar Swanigan Jr., 22, killed during attempted home invasion on Marseille Road
Jan. 2: Officers were called to the 3700 block of Marseille Road on the east side of Indianapolis on a report of a home invasion in progress around 7 p.m.
The homeowner called 911 and said a person was breaking into their home and that shots were being fired, IMPD Capt. Don Weilhammer said.
Officers found Damon Lamar Swanigan Jr., 22, outside the house with gunshot injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The homeowner "is OK" and was transported to IMPD's homicide office for an interview with detectives, Weilhammer said. The homeowner was later released pending further investigation.
Police believe there was an exchange of gunfire between the homeowner and the suspect or suspects in the home invasion.
Detectives are looking for other witnesses with information on the shooting and believe at least one other person was involved in the home invasion.
"We are hoping that somebody else saw something here or that there are cameras around from some of the neighbors,” Weilhammer said.
Lead detective: Douglas Morning, Douglas.Morning@indy.gov
Justin Boyd II, Jasmine Ivy-Dede die in double-shooting New Year's eve
Jan. 1: A man has been arrested in the killings of an Indianapolis firefighter and a woman who were found dead with gunshot wounds inside a crashed car on Monday.
Jason Dante Lapsley, 52, was taken into custody by Indianapolis police Monday night, just hours after the double homicide. He's jailed on two counts of murder.
Details about his alleged connection to the double shooting were not immediately available. Police said evidence, including help from community members, led to Lapsley's arrest.
Officers were called shortly before 6 a.m. Monday to a reported vehicle crash at Michigan Road and Grandview Drive. Responding police found the man, identified as Justin Boyd II, 45, and the woman, identified as Jasmine Ivy-Dede, 42, inside a pickup off the road. Both died at the scene from gunshot wounds. Their deaths were among the city's first homicides of the new year.
Lead detective: Michael Wright, michael.wright@indy.gov.
More: Arrest made in double shooting that killed IFD firefighter, 42-year-old woman
Bryan Foley, 40, dies in shooting on Boulevard Place
Jan. 1: Just after 1 a.m. officers responded to the 3100 block of Boulevard Place on a report of a person shot. Officers arrived and Bryan Foley, 40, inside with gunshot injuries. Foley was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead by medical staff.
Investigators detained a person of interest and the scene and believe a family disturbance occurred before the shooting. The person was released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Ronal Sayles, ronald.sayles@indy.gov
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis killings in January 2024
