Make wishtv.com your home page

Man tried to save friend in fatal shooting

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — “I’m going to miss you, buddy”: Those were the last words Dave Ezell said to his friend, 31-year-old Roberto Cisneros, who died early Monday morning after being shot.

Ezell said Cisneros was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, right outside Ezell’s home in the 1600 block of South Harlan Street. Cisneros and the suspect were headed to the gas station when they began arguing, and the suspect, from the back seat of the vehicle, pulled out a gun and started shooting Cisneros, Ezell said. 

“He was shooting at him from the back seat, and he (Cisneros) was sitting in the front seat,” Ezell said. 

Ezell said Cisnero got out of the vehicle, trying to fight off his attacker, but collapsed. 

“I was the one giving him CPR, and I knew it was pretty, kind of a useless attempt, but he deserved to have every chance of life that I could give him,” said Ezell. 

Cisnero died as a result of his injuries, and the suspect ran off, according to IMPD.

It was one of three shootings over a span of less than six hours in Indianapolis.

The first happened Sunday night around 8 p.m. on the 2900 block of Gale Street near 30th Street and  Sherman Drive on the east side. The second happened around 9 p.m. on the 1000 North Sheffield Avenue near 10th Street and Belmont Avenue on the city’s west side. Those incidents were not fatal. The third shooting claimed Cisnero’s life.

So far, Indianapolis has seen 93 homicides in 2018, two more than this time in 2017; those numbers include deaths deemed reckless, accidental, self-defense or defense of another, in addition to what police call intentional, or criminal, homicides. Intentional homicides are up as well, with 86 so far in 2018, compared to 75 at this time last year. 

But for the loved ones of victims, it’s not about numbers. 

“It’s just sad to hear and see that these things are still happening in our community,” said Derris Ross of the Ross Foundation.

Ross has been working to reduce crime with the Ross Foundation. Just last week, Mayor Joe Hogsett presented his organization with a $60,000 check to support that effort. 

“The Ross Foundation is big on conflict resolution. We feel like the Basic Program, it’s de-escalating neighborhood issues before it escalates to involving IMPD,” said Ross. 

Ross plans on using the money for the Basic Program, a crime prevention program. He’ll hire mentors and life coaches to spend time with troubled youth on the streets. His goal is crime prevention starting from an early age. 

He hopes to reduce crime and in turn, reduce heartache. 

“I’m going to miss seeing him, and I’m sure his family is going to miss him,” said Ezell. 

Ezell said he knows who pulled the trigger, but IMPD has not confirmed that information. As of Monday night, police had not made an arrest in the case.

If you have any information on any of these incidents, call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS. 

Crime Map
Use Search Bars Above To Search Crime Data