Funeral processions are expected to be moments of calm and grieving, not occasions for attempted murder. A violent exception to such expectations recently occurred during a funeral procession at a cemetery in northeast Indianapolis. According to police, three persons received gunshot wounds as they participated in a funeral for the victim of an earlier violent crime on the west side.
The funeral was honoring a woman who had been killed last week by gunfire outside of a west side bakery. According to police, the procession was approaching Southerland Park Cemetery when men in a white SUV opened fire. Witnesses said that women and children were diving for cover when the shooting began. One of the victims was a man identified as the cousin of the homicide victim and allegedly the leader of a local drug gang. Two women were also shot in the incident. Police did not release details of the victims’ medical conditions, but all of them appeared to be in stable condition.
Police have not identified any suspects in the shootings, but they said that the alleged drug gang leader was believed to be the main target in retaliation for the killing of a man in Zionsville this spring. The alleged gang leader is facing criminal charges for drug dealing, corrupt business influence and criminal gang charges.
If anyone is charged with any of these shootings, that person must be presumed innocent unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Anyone facing similar charges may benefit by consulting an experienced criminal defense attorney for an evaluation of the facts and evidence in the case.
Source: Fox 59, “3 people, including alleged gang leader, shot during funeral procession for Jasmine Moore,” July 21, 2017