Triple Homicide Sparks Community Action

In response to a triple homicide Sunday night, local clergy and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced a new strategy to keep the northwest Indianapolis neighborhood safe.

The homicide also took place several hours after a Blues & Jazz In The Park concert and some attendants were still in the area. President of the Indianapolis TenPoint Coalition Rev. Charles Harrison says members of TenPoint and religious leaders will canvas future concerts -- mingle in the crowd -- to secure areas that may cause potential problems.

“A lot of people have worked very, very hard to make this a better neighborhood. We have struggled over the years with our share of violence,” Harrison says. “What happened Sunday is certainly not a reflection of all the good things going on in this neighborhood and the hard work of people to make it a better place.”

They plan to be most active in the several hours after the event, which is when Sunday’s shooting took place. But local leaders made it clear they are not trying to act as police.

“This is not a punitive effort; this is not to be heavy-handed in our community.  This is really an effort you see here of love,” local pastor John Girton Jr. says. “We also want to involve the community and assure that people know that we're going to be out providing love and support for those members of our community.”

The shooting took place Sunday shortly after 10:30 p.m., several hours after the concert. But in IMPD’s early investigation commander Lorenzo Lewis says the suspects and victims were at no point attending the Jazz in the Park concert.

There’s only one more concert scheduled this summer but there are plans to continue this strategy next year.