Masked gunman kills 2, injures 6 at NW side birthday party

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/AP) - A man and a woman are dead following a shooting at a birthday celebration in which eight people were struck by bullets on the near northwest side of Indianapolis. Police say a masked man armed with a high-powered rifle is responsible for the shooting.

Police have not yet released a motive for the shooting, but family members tell 24-Hour News 8 the shooting is retaliation for a homicide on Udell Street several years ago.

The shooting happened just after midnight Tuesday morning as 35 people gathered at a birthday barbecue at the home at 1268 West 32nd Street.

The bodies of 54-year-old Charles Mayes and 37-year-old Barbara Johnson were found lying in the yard. Family members say they were celebrating Johnson’s birthday.

Six other people were shot including one partygoer who had been shot in the neck and another who was shot in the back, IMPD Lt. Jeff Duhamell said.

The surviving victims have been identified as Jewel Dotson, 21; Kendall Hell, 25; Barbra Johnson’s mother: Prinsonia “Penny” Jonson, 54; Willie Battles, 28; Nakeisha Morries, 24; Tamera Williams, 32. All of the victims are from Indianapolis, police say.

Four of the victims were taken to Methodist Hospital, two more taken to Wishard Hospital. All are believed to be in stable condition.

"We're talking at least 25-30 rounds from a high-powered rifle, so although eight people were shot, it could've been a lot worse," Duhamell said.

Police say around 10 p.m., hours before the shooting, they received complaints about a man walking around the neighborhood with an automatic weapon but police found no one. Duhamell said it wasn't immediately clear if there was a connection with the shooting early Tuesday.

"We don't know if shots were fired from the house. We do know that shots were fired at the house. So, right now, we're just trying to put it all together," said IMPD Lt. Jeff Duhamell.

Duhamell said the gunman had been wearing a ski mask, and that he fired from the street and then a car before fleeing. It wasn't clear if a getaway driver was also involved.

Police say they're questioning around 30 people.

Vehicles located

Investigators say shortly after the shooting they found a silver Dodge Charger at Clifton and Congress riddled with bullets. They believe the car belongs to one of the victims but say no one inside the Charger was injured.

Later Tuesday morning, around 9 a.m., police say they what may be the suspect's vehicle, Dodge Chrysler 300, in the 1300 block of West Roache Avenue. Police say no one was inside the car and it has been towed away for further investigation.

A neighborhood in shock

The shooting left shell casings scattered across 32nd Street in a neighborhood between Interstate 65 and the White River. Meanwhile, shocked and scared neighbors expressed their dismay over the shooting.

"The neighborhood is over. It just makes me feel like the neighborhood is over. We've been living here for 50 years and never had anything like this," said one neighbor.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard called the shooting, "disgusting" but seemed optimistic about the investigation.

"They (police) feel like they have some good leads and I think they're going to nail this one, I hope, very quickly," said Ballard.

24-Hour News 8 is taking a closer look into crime in the neighborhood where the eight people were shot. Look for that report on 24-Hour News 8 at noon and at 5 & 6. In the meantime, you can check out crime in neighborhoods all over the city by viewing the CrimeView Community map .