INDIANAPOLIS — Prosecutors charged a 17-year-old as an adult for his alleged role in a mass shooting that injured seven people between the ages of 12 and 16 in downtown Indianapolis.
On Friday, April 5, IMPD officers arrested 17-year-old King Dennis for his alleged role in the shooting. Police arrested him on preliminary charges of criminal recklessness and dangerous possession of a firearm.
At an initial hearing April 10, Dennis' bond was set at $25,000. He entered a not guilty plea and was ordered to stay at least six blocks away from where the shooting took place.
The next hearing for Dennis is scheduled for June 4 at 1 p.m.
According to court documents, IMPD detectives identified Dennis from surveillance video, where he was allegedly seen pointing a gun toward a crowd of people and firing. It happened on West Maryland Street, between South Meridian and South Illinois streets shortly after 11 p.m. March 30. Officers located a group of minors near there, six of whom had been shot.
Court documents say Dennis was one of two people arrested at the scene – and later released – for fighting with police. Surveillance video and bodycam video from the arrest both show Dennis wearing the same jacket.
On April 5, detectives detained Dennis and took him into custody.
Court documents say Dennis allegedly admitted that he was the person seen in the surveillance video. When questioned by detectives, they claim Dennis said he was carrying a handgun in his waistband and moved the gun to his jacket when he came across a large group.
According to court documents, Dennis told detectives he saw a fight happening and was trying to move away from the incident. Dennis claims he heard and saw people shooting guns in his direction. Dennis said he then took his gun out of his jacket and fired two shots.
Dennis allegedly told detectives he wasn't aiming at anyone and claims he knew that if he shot at people shooting at him, he could get his friends time to get to safety.
According to court documents, Dennis told detectives he stayed at the scene because he knew people who had been shot, and he was trying to help them.
Dennis told detectives the male shooting toward him was wearing a ski mask.
“The defendant’s criminal history, the alleged conduct, and Indiana statute require this individual to face felony charges as an adult,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said. “I want to thank the investigators for getting us to this point, but this is the first step— as this matter remains under investigation. We will continue to pursue leads and information until everyone involved is held accountable for their actions."
The prosecutor's office said Dennis has a prior conviction for dangerous possession of a handgun.
An initial court hearing had not been set at the time of this article's publishing.
The victims were taken to local hospitals, including five to Riley Hospital for Children, an IU Health spokesperson confirmed to 13News.
IMPD identified the victims as a 12-year-old boy, three 14-year-old girls, a 16-year-old girl and two other 16-year-old boys.
One of the victims was initially in critical condition, but had since been upgraded to "stable," according to IMPD. All other victims were described as stable, including a seventh victim who arrived at Community Hospital South with a gunshot wound.
IMPD aggravated assault detectives responded to the scene to begin an investigation. Police said they believe there was more than one gun involved in the shooting.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective Michal Dinnsen in the IMPD Aggregated Assault Office at 317-327-3475 or e-mail him at michal.dinnsen@indy.gov. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
Community leaders react to mass shooting
IMPD Chief of Police Chris Bailey said police believe the shooting was "a planned event."
"What we've learned so far in the investigation was that this was a planned event downtown. It wasn't a random type of thing. There was an ongoing beef and they brought that beef downtown. Earlier in that day we believe is when that planning took place for this event to happen in downtown Indianapolis," Bailey said.
The incident led to IMPD enforcing the Indiana curfew law for people under 18 years old beginning April 5.
Here are the guidelines under Indiana law:
- Children 15-17 years old may not be in a public place:
- between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday
- after 11 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday
- before 5 a.m. on Monday-Friday
- Children younger than 15 may not be in a public place after 11 p.m. or before 5 a.m. on any day
Exceptions to this curfew include:
- A juvenile who is accompanied by a parent, guardian or custodian or adult
- A juvenile who is accompanied by an adult specified by a parent, guardian or custodian
- A juvenile participating in, going to, or returning from work, a school sanctioned activity, a religious event, an emergency involving the protection of a person or property from an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or substantial damage, or an activity involving the exercise of the juveniles engaging in freedom of speech or the right of assembly
- A juvenile participating in an activity conducted by a nonprofit or governmental entity that provides recreation, education, training or other care under the supervision of an adult
- A juvenile participating in an activity with the prior written direction of the juvenile’s parent, guardian or custodian
- A juvenile traveling from outside Indiana to another location outside Indiana.
“Once again we have a situation in which young people are resolving conflict with firearms, and it has to stop,” said IMPD Deputy Chief Tanya Terry.
"Prosecutor (Ryan) Mears and I have had conversations today and we're looking at all avenues of the law to see what we can and can't do to hold adults accountable for the actions of their children," Bailey said.
"I will say, I think all options are on the table and it's certainly something that could potentially have a positive impact, but you also have to have the balance of how this is implemented is well thought out and applied in a uniform manner that ultimately keeps everybody in the community safe," Mears said.
The incident marked the third weekend in a row that at least six people have been injured in a shooting in Indianapolis.
IMPD said it is continuing to review video and speak to witnesses to identify other suspects involved in the shooting.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett released this statement following the shooting:
“This Easter Sunday, I am heartbroken for the young people whose lives have been impacted by what occurred last night.
Let me be clear: a 12-year-old child has no business being out late at night anywhere without parental or adult supervision. As important, there is no reason why a young person at any age should be in possession of a gun.
But no level of law enforcement or community programming can keep guns out of the hands of every young person in our city. Solutions will require all of us to address the ease with which our youth access and turn to firearms to solve their conflicts.
The City of Indianapolis is continuing to build on our $150 million violence reduction strategy, including hiring a Chief Violence Prevention Officer who will focus exclusively on youth and working to prosecute those who provide firearms to minors.”
Youth violence prevention
Help is available for at risk youth in Indianapolis. A number of organizations are ready to provide families and teens support, mentorship, and coaching to deal with these issues. Here are a few:
- Purpose 4 My Pain: Support services for victims and survivors, mentorship, and other programs.
- Inner Beauty and New Breed of Youth: Mentorship & life coaching for youth
- Stop the Violence Indy: Support for parents, youth coaching, violence intervention
- Young Men Inc: Low-cost summer camp, workshops for youth
- Marion County Youth Violence Prevention Coalition: organizations offering services to youth & families.
The Office of Public Health and Safety is currently looking for more programming to offer in its “Summer in the City 2024” initiative to reduce violence and teach teens skills. Organizations have until April 5, 2024 to submit questions. Submissions are due by April 12.