Triple murders are rare, but triple murders in which a juvenile is implicated as the potential murderer are especially rare. Nevertheless, just such a case may be unfolding in Indianapolis where police have just arrested a 15-year old male in connection with the shooting deaths of three adult males. The suspect is currently in custody and he may be facing a number of serious criminal charges.
On Sunday, July 16, 2017, Indianapolis police responded to reports of a shooting in a north side apartment building. Upon arrival at the apartment, officers found three unresponsive males who appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds. Two other males, neither of whom was injured, were also in the apartment. Witnesses reported seeing two individuals leave the apartment building, jump into a car and speed away immediately after the shooting. Police were initially surprised by the shooting because the apartment building was not known as a common source of crime.
At first, police declined to release any details of their investigation because they believed that they had a number of promising leads and that a suspect would soon be in custody. Two days after the shooting, July 18, 2017, police arrested a 15-year-old boy who is now in custody at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center. Police have said that the youth is suspected of participating in a drug robbery that turned into a triple homicide. Two other males, also suspects in the shooting, are still at large, and homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the shootings.
The outcome of this case is far from certain. Police have not established the roles of the two men they are currently pursuing. Also, the two uninjured males who were in the apartment when police arrived may have been involved in the incident. The 15-year-old suspect also faces the possibility of being tried as an adult. Anyone facing similar charges might wish to consult an experienced criminal attorney for advice on defense strategies and the likelihood of obtaining a favorable plea agreement or an outright acquittal.
Source: Indianapolis Star, “15-year-old arrested in triple homicide at Washington Township apartment,” Emma Kate Fittes and Vic Ryckaert, July 18, 2017
