A late-night gathering tied to prom festivities turned tragic early Sunday when gunfire broke out at a rental home on Indianapolis’ near north side, leaving one woman dead and three others injured.
Police say officers were first called to the 4000 block of North Park Avenue, near North College Avenue and 38th Street, shortly before 1 a.m. on May 3 after reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. She was transported to a nearby hospital but did not survive. Officials with the Marion County Coroner’s Office will determine her exact cause and manner of death.
Not long after, two additional victims arrived at Methodist Hospital with gunshot injuries. Investigators believe they were also wounded at the same location. Authorities said one of those victims is in critical condition, while the other is stable. A fourth person was hurt while attempting to flee the home.
Police believe the shooting happened during a post-prom party held at a short-term rental property, where a large crowd—many of them teenagers—had gathered. Witnesses estimated around 100 people attended, with cars lining the street and double-parked before the incident.
Security footage from a neighbor shows a white car driving down the street just before the gunfire begins, then reversing as more shots are heard. The home where the party took place was left riddled with bullet holes, with prom decorations still visible among evidence markers.
Across the street, Salome Mitchell described how a stray bullet tore through his home, passing through a window, a couch where his son usually sits, and into a wall before stopping at the back door. He noted the house had only recently become a rental and hadn’t caused problems before, but he had concerns when he saw the size of the crowd forming that night.
Despite the violence, neighbors emphasized that the area is typically quiet and family-oriented, saying, “This is a great neighborhood. There’s great families, you know, I was telling my wife, you know, this is a one-off.”
Police have not released information about a suspect or motive. Anyone with details is asked to contact Detective Christopher Winter at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or via email at Christopher.Winter@indy.gov.
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