Seven children were wounded in a shooting outside a downtown Indianapolis mall on Saturday night, with most of them sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
The victims, aged 12 to 16, were involved in the incident. Initially, there was confusion about the age of one victim, with police later clarifying that the victims include two 14-year-old girls, a 16-year-old girl, two 16-year-old boys, and a 12-year-old boy. One victim who was initially in critical condition is now stable, the police reported.
The Indianapolis police chief stated during a news conference that the shooting was not a random act but appeared to be the result of an ongoing dispute that escalated into violence. The incident occurred outside Circle Centre Mall, where officers on patrol heard gunshots and responded to find multiple injured individuals.
Emergency services transported the injured children to hospitals, with one additional individual under 17 arriving at a hospital independently. Police suspect more than one shooter was involved and that multiple firearms were used in the attack.
Following the incident, two children were detained on charges of resisting law enforcement, although it is unclear if they were involved in the shooting. The authorities have yet to identify suspects but are actively investigating leads, including reviewing security camera footage and obtaining search warrants.
Tanya Terry, the Indianapolis police department’s deputy chief of operations, expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing the need to address youth violence involving firearms. She urged parents to be more attentive to their children’s activities, especially during late hours, to prevent such tragic events.
This shooting marks the latest in a series of violent incidents in Indianapolis in recent weeks. Increased police presence and community involvement are being emphasized to address the recurring violence plaguing the city.
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