Community reacts to string of violence after 2 IMPD officers shot
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Many in the community are concerned with the gun violence Indianapolis and Lawrence saw on Thursday, but some say it’s just part of their lives now.
“I just really think it’s been happening for so long it’s like I’m numb to it,” DeWayne Brown, a salesman with Express Auto Source, said.
Brown was inside the store near 30th Street and Post Road during Thursday’s shootout between law enforcement and a suspect in the shooting of two Indianapolis police officers.
Brown says he heard 40 to 50 shots.
“It’s kinda hard to actually have hard feelings about it now, just because we’ve been here so long. Especially in Indianapolis, it’s been going on so long that us as citizens, we’re numb to the gun violence.”
Authorities confirmed they were attempting to stop the vehicle involved in the shootout because they were looking for a suspect in a Lawrence Police Department shooting case.
Deborah Scisney, a Lawrence resident, is concerned the gun violence stemmed from her community.
“I think it’s terrible. It’s awful. There’s so much violence and so much stuff going on, I’m scared to do anything,” Scisney said. “You don’t know what to do about what, and you don’t know which way you’re going to have to bounce, turn or whatever because there is so much crime.”
Walter Wakeland is shocked this gun violence originated with a shooting in Lawrence.
“This area here in Lawrence is not like that,” Wakeland said. “Do they know if the people are from Lawrence that did this? I don’t believe they are.”
Scisney says she’s also concerned that two officers were shot.
“I feel sorry for them because I know they are scared, too, when they approach things, and they don’t know how anything is going to turn out. “They can approach them like the ones today and get shot.”
Many we spoke to are calling for more to be done to end this violence, while Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor, and IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey were also vocal in their calls to end local gun violence.
Thursday’s Crime Watch 8 headlines
- Indianapolis violence leaves 3 dead, 3 injured
- East side shooting kills Arsenal Tech student
- IMPD: 1 dead after shooting near Riverside Park
- Man dies in near north side shooting
