IMPD: 14-year-old boy shot, killed after trying to rob person on downtown canal

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A teenager is dead after being shot along downtown’s Indiana Central Canal early Monday morning, according to police.

Investigators believe he was shot and killed while trying to rob someone.

Police say the shooter was legally carrying a firearm and is cooperating with investigators. The shooting stayed at the scene to speak with officers.

Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded around 2 a.m. Monday to the 300 block of West Walnut Street for a person shot report. IMPD said a group of juveniles were on the canal at the time.

Melania Apostolidou, of Indianapolis, saw the police activity. “Sixteen police cars or more, even more. We were like, ‘Oh, no, something serious is going on’ because they kept on coming. We saw the ambulance.”

Curtis White Jr., 14, was later identified as the teenager who died.

“That is terrible, that is really terrible,” Apostolidou told News 8 about White’s death.

Kayla Smith, of Indianapolis, said, “It’s always sad, no matter what.”

The Rev. Charles Harrison, founder of the crime-fighting Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition, says Indianapolis has reached 107 homicides in less than six months. He said he has an increase in downtown violence.

“The downtown area used to be one of the safest areas of the city, but as the population is now growing downtown and there’s a lot more activity downtown, we’re seeing certainly an increase in violence,” said Harrison, who also is lead pastor of Barnes United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.

IMPD said several witnesses are cooperating with the investigation. IMPD has asked other witnesses to come forward.