Mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis kills 2, injures 5 others following 4th of July celebrations

What happened in Indianapolis last night is unacceptable.

Gun culture is out of control. Two people were killed. A child is dead. More are wounded. We had kids carrying assault rifles downtown. This is not normal, and we cannot allow it to become routine. Kids need structure and oversight. Not dropped off without supervision.

I support Chief Bailey’s urgency and I agree: it’s time for tough conversations. But let’s be clear. While parents MUST step up and take accountability for their children, it’s not just about blaming parents. This is about an entire culture that glorifies violence, makes excuses, neglects prevention, and waits for tragedy before acting. It’s layered. It’s complex. And it’s killing our kids.

While it absolutely starts at home, the Marion County Prosecutor must hold those involved-yes, even juveniles-accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We cannot afford leniency when lives are being lost. Consequences must be real. Justice must mean something. A slap on the hand is not enough.

At Young Men, Inc., we’ve been doing the work for 31 years. And it works. We are saving and changing lives every single day. This year alone, we’ve mentored 30 new boys through our camp and ongoing programming. Thousands have come through our doors over three decades. We instill discipline. We teach character. We give them vision. We are showing opportunity and changing lives. But despite the impact, we struggle every year to fund our work. Enough with the excuses. If we want to stop these tragedies, it’s time to invest in what’s actually working.

We don’t need more blame; we need more responsibility. We need a community that refuses to normalize this violence and instead mobilizes around real solutions.

This moment demands more than outrage. It demands action.

Like many in our community, I, too, am sad and disheartened learning about the violent incidents that occurred downtown last night. Loss of life caused by gun violence at any age is tragic. There are no words when that victim is a child whose life has only begun. My thoughts and prayers are with the families whose lives will never be the same, and our community mourns your loss.

It is imperative that we unite as one city and support our youth leaders, community organizers, public safety officials, elected officials and all individuals and address this situation. To address the violence we’re witnessing throughout our city, we must distribute resources to support efforts, including but not limited to:

·      Paying for downtown police overtime.

·      Providing a minimum of three Emergency Response Group (ERG) squads on Friday and Saturday nights through the end of the summer.

·      Maintain public safety presence in Broad Ripple and Castleton.

·      Readdress the proper implementation of the Enforce Curfew Law

·      Direct dollars (private and public) to have social action organizations work with police to de-escalate situations.

Indianapolis is our city, and it will take all of us to protect our youth, families, and neighborhoods. I look forward to working alongside community members interested in ensuring that all who visit our downtown and neighboring communities are safe.

My heart is heavy as I write to you today. In recent days, our city has been shaken by a series of senseless acts of violence—lives taken too soon, families devastated, and neighborhoods left grieving. These tragedies in downtown Indianapolis and the surrounding communities are more than just statistics; they are deeply personal losses that tear at the fabric of who we are as a city.
As Chairman of Public Safety, I want to extend my deepest condolences to every family affected. Your pain is our pain. Your loss is felt in every corner of this city.

We must come together—not only in grief, but in resolve.

I want to offer my full support and unwavering confidence in Chief Chris Bailey and the dedicated officers of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. These men and women put their lives on the line every day, working tirelessly to respond to violence, build community trust, and prevent future tragedy. Their courage and commitment deserve not only our respect but also our collective support.

But law enforcement cannot do this alone. Public safety is a shared responsibility—and we are fortunate in Indianapolis to have a strong network of community leaders, violence interrupters, faith-based organizations, outreach workers, and neighborhood advocates who are doing the hard work of prevention and healing. I want to personally thank these organizations for stepping up every day—in schools, on street corners, and in homes—to offer hope, guidance, and alternatives to violence.

As we look for immediate and long-term solutions, I want to share that the City-County Council is currently revisiting our curfew ordinance to ensure it is both enforceable and effective in keeping our young people safe. In addition, we are preparing to introduce a new ordinance that holds parents and guardians more accountable for the actions of their children. This is about more than enforcement—it’s about building a culture of responsibility and care, starting at home.

However, we also recognize the practical realities that come with curfew enforcement.

The Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and Juvenile Family Services currently do not have the staffing or capacity to intake and process large numbers of minors on a Friday or Saturday night.

That is why we are calling on our community partners—nonprofits, youth service providers, and neighborhood organizations—to join us in developing a coordinated response that includes safe intake procedures, temporary care, and support services for youth who violate curfew.

This is not just a policy issue—it’s a community challenge, and it will take a community solution.

This moment calls for unity. It calls for investment—in people, in neighborhoods, and in proven strategies that disrupt the cycles of trauma and retaliation.
Let me be clear: one life lost is one too many. We must remain focused on building a safer Indianapolis—not just through enforcement, but through opportunities, resources, and deep community relationships.

Together, we will not let violence define us.

We will let our response define us: unified, compassionate, and unrelenting in our pursuit of peace.

"My heart goes out to the loved ones grieving loss from last night’s tragedy. Every life lost to violence is one too many, and I am saddened and frustrated by the senselessness of the gun violence plaguing our communities.

I want to commend the swift and professional response of our IMPD officers following this heartbreaking incident downtown. Their commitment to protecting our community is unwavering—but we know they cannot do it alone. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our youth requires all of us: city leadership, community organizations, volunteers, and residents working together. Too many programs that could change lives are operating below capacity—not due to a lack of vision, but a lack of support, staffing, and awareness.

Parents carry a deep and rightful responsibility in guiding and protecting their children. But we must also acknowledge that many are stretched thin—working multiple jobs, managing households, and doing their best in difficult circumstances. While parents remain the first line of influence, they cannot—and should not—be expected to do this work in isolation. Our youth need a village, and that village must be visible, engaged, and resourced.

I’m reminded of a young man I once mentored—smart, determined, and doing everything right. He was working, taking care of his young children, and making better choices for his future. And yet, he lost his life simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. His story is a painful reminder that this work—mentoring, supporting, intervening—matters. Lasting change requires long-term commitment, from all of us.

And let’s be clear: the ease with which our young people can access firearms is unacceptable and we must hold accountable those who are putting deadly weapons into the hands of our youth. This is a collective responsibility, and we must meet it with urgency, empathy, and sustained investment in the people and programs that can make a difference.”