'Pure chaos': Neighbors on edge after string of Geist house parties result in gunfire
Residents in a Geist neighborhood are worried for their safety after large parties at a former college and NBA basketball player's house led to gunfire and a person being shot last weekend.
The parties started about a month or so ago, said Alli Moos, a previous resident of the neighborhood. Neighbors said on social media the parties have been a severe disruption with car-packed streets, bullet-pierced cars and noise-filled weekends. Moos' ex-husband and her kids still live in the neighborhood, and she stayed up all night waiting to hear everyone was safe after learning about the Sunday morning shooting.
Police responded around 1:30 a.m. Sunday after a report of a person shot at a house in the 9000 block of Fall Creek Road on the city's northeast side. According to police, the person shot was awake and breathing.
Parties have led to unrest, police run-ins
Moos said a promoter leases the house on weekends to throw parties causing "pure chaos" in a usually quiet neighborhood. After last weekend's shooting, she said her neighbors told her they had to take cover in their houses — one who was left with a shattered shower door and another a bullet in their bed.
A.J. Hammons, a former Purdue and NBA basketball player, owns the home, according to property records. He bought the $1.1 million home in 2018. Last year, the house was put into foreclosure and Hammons filed for bankruptcy in November, according to court documents. The home was listed for sale on a local realtor's website before being withdrawn.
At an emergency neighborhood association meeting Tuesday night, police told residents that they've responded to 21 runs to the home in the past year with over half in the last two weekends.
According to an event poster obtained by IndyStar, a promoter was planning a mansion pool party this Sunday at the house. The flyer said there would be a "super wet T-shirt contest" and a DJ. It also specified general admission and VIP prices, $25 and $45 respectively, as well as balcony and poolside entry with bottles and wristbands costing $500-650.
Neighbors believe the party has been canceled, but IMPD will still have more patrolling officers and surveillance this weekend in the area.
"I'm at peace knowing they won't go throw that for a fourth weekend," Moos said.
Police, city respond to wild parties in Geist neighborhood
Police said they are familiar with the complaints, and the case is active. The IMPD Nuisance and Abatement team is investigating and working with the prosecutor to pursue criminal charges. The Marion County Public Health Department also has a small role looking into food safety and licensing.
An Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission spokesperson said they received a complaint regarding a promotion at the house, and the State Excise Police are investigating.
Hammons did not respond for comment. When approached by Fox59, a man claiming to be the property owner told them he knew nothing about the disturbances.
This isn't the first time large house parties have been a problem in the city.
In April the police department's Nuisance Abatement detectives put a call out seeking the public’s help spotting promoters who are advertising parties on social media at short-term rental properties, such as Airbnb and VRBO.
“This isn’t a couple of high school kids who got together while mom and dad are out of town and raided the liquor cabinet,” said Capt. Chris Boomershine, of Commercial Crimes, at the time. “This is basically an enterprise business.”
Airbnb also has announced they are cracking down on unauthorized parties on Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends. They are implementing a stronger vetting process to identify higher-risk bookings and asking people who think they are witnessing a rule-violating party to alert the company.
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Police ask anyone with information on the organizers, promotors and events hosting potential illegal activity to contact the IMPD team investigating at IMPD_NuisanceAbatement@indy.gov. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Contact IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Cate Charron at ccharron@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @catecharron. IndyStar public safety reporter Sarah Nelson contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis crime: Neighbors on edge after Geist house party shooting
