INDIANAPOLIS — A chaotic situation on the near east side led police to seize multiple firearms and detain more than a dozen juveniles for questioning.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers arrested 16 people on Thursday morning.
Police received multiple calls about shots fired in the 800 block of Spruce Street around 1:20 a.m. One caller reported hearing around 22 shots and seeing several people running from a residence.
Officers arrived to find four juveniles or young adults running away, leading to a foot pursuit. Officers caught two of the individuals while two others got into a car that came to pick them up. Police were unable to take the other two into custody.
More than a dozen people were inside the house. As a result, officers at the scene requested additional resources. Records show the residence was a short-term rental property.
“We called out the Violent Crime Task Force to help us out [and] clear the house,” said Capt. John Arvin with IMPD. “Fifteen to 20 juveniles came out of the house and were placed on an IndyGo bus to be interviewed.”
Police collected nine weapons during the initial response, including a rifle, pistols and a drum magazine. Officers also found a machine gun conversion device in a nearby vehicle.
After obtaining a search warrant, police found three additional guns and marijuana. They recovered multiple shell casings from the area.
Police arrested 16 adults. One faces preliminary charges of being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun. The 15 others were arrested on a charge of visiting a common nuisance.
IMPD wondered how so many unattended juveniles were out late and called for accountability from parents.
“If your son or daughter leaves the house at 10 o’clock at night and they have a gun, that’s a you problem, that’s a parent problem,” Arvin said. “And now you don’t be a parent and now it’s our problem, the prosecutor’s officer problem and the judge’s problem. So, we need parents to step up.”
Police were concerned some of the individuals may have been shot and monitored hospitals for any gunshot victims.
“With all the shots fired runs that were called in by the citizens, we don’t know if anyone has been shot,” Arvin said. “Some of the neighbors have reported they have saw some kids running away from the scene and it looked as if they could have been injured.”
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey commended officers and detectives for their response.
“When a large party at a short-term rental turned violent, our officers responded to a chaotic scene with professionalism and courage, even as more than two dozen individuals fled,” Bailey said. “Their quick actions led to the arrest of 16 adults, the detention of several juveniles, and the recovery of a dozen firearms. Because of their efforts, those guns are off our streets, and I truly believe lives have been saved as a result.”
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