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Community mourns loss of 8-year-old boy fatally shot

8-year-old fatally shot inside Indianapolis home

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Eight-year-old Rodgerick Payne Jr. was found shot inside a home in the 3200 block of North Tacoma Avenue around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday.

News 8 spoke with a neighbor who was visiting a friend next door and heard gunshots. He later saw the child’s mother in tears.

“I heard about 7-8 gunshots last night and then about two minutes later the police came. I guess they called the police first, I don’t know,” Leonard Richardson said Wednesday. “When I looked out she came out crying, hollering and everything.”

Richardson mentioned he often saw Rodgerick riding his bicycle around the neighborhood.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said a bullet went through a home and hit the child. Rodgerick was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Investigators said the boy’s guardians were home during the shooting but were not injured.

Family members at the home Wednesday morning told News 8 they did not want speak.

Community activist The Rev. Charles Harrison shared a tweet hours after the shooting.

A few neighbors farther down Tacoma Avenue said they didn’t hear anything at the time of the incident.

“I’m definitely surprised, definitely surprised to hear about the kid getting shot,” said Christi Vinson.

Vinson said it’s usually quiet on her block and all the neighbors look out for each other. She would like to see more police patrolling the area.

“I could care less if a cop, police officer sat in my driveway 24/7 and they made this their location to post up and just a presence,” Vison said. “It’s ironic that the police department headquarters is less than a block away. People don’t have regards for it.”

IMPD has not released any suspect information and do not know if the incident was targeted, but said they are working hard to find the person responsible for taking the life of a young child.

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