Man shot during rape investigation also charged in stabbing, arson

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A man arrested in connection with the kidnapping and rape of a woman and subsequent exchange of gunfire with officers now faces additional charges in the stabbing of young woman left in a burning house late last month.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said Vincent Smith, 25, also known as Sherman Smith and Yohau Flame, tried to kill Helen Lopez, 18, on Aug. 29, and set fire to the house at 1139 N. Centennial Ave., leaving her inside. Indianapolis firefighters pulled her from the burning home , and she is still in critical in a local hospital, IMPD said Monday.

In connection with Lopez’ stabbing and the Aug. 29 fire, Smith faces a preliminary charge of attempted murder, along with Class A felony burglary and arson charges, a Class B felony arson charge and a Class D felony theft charge, IMPD said.

Smith was arrested Friday after police said he shot at officers who were investigating the kidnapping and rape that had occurred Friday morning.

IMPD said Smith fired a gun at officers as they approached him Friday afternoon in the 3300 block of Van Buren Street. Smith was struck in the hand when officers returned gunfire. IMPD said he faces an attempted murder charge in connection with that incident, accused of trying to kill Officer Ronald Shelnutt.

Police said Smith kidnapped a woman in the 4700 block of Copen Court on Friday morning, used her bank card at two ATMs, took her a wooded area and raped her, then dropped her off at the Indianapolis International Airport a couple hours later, at about 7:30 a.m. Friday.

In connection with that incident, he faces charges of rape and criminal deviate conduct, both Class A felonies, and criminal confinement, a Class B felony.

Reward posters plastered the neighborhood around the burned home.

"It makes me sick to think that somebody can act so nice and go and do something like that," said Lopez's neighbor Tracie Driver, holding one of the posters with Smith's picture on it.

Area residents said Smith lived one street over, with his 80-year-old great-grandfather.

Driver said Smith's arrest in connection with the stabbing and arson came as a shock because she Smith has been in her home before.

"He moved in a freezer in for me Thursday before that happened Monday," Driver said.

Driver said there's a big lesson to learn from all of this: be careful whom you trust.

"What is he thinking?" she said. "How can a person go from being nice to go to these all these bad things all at once?"

Smith is set to appear in court at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.