Seven young people — all under the age of 17 — were injured in a mass shooting over Easter weekend in Indianapolis, Ind., authorities say.
Police responded to a series of shots fired a little before midnight on Saturday evening and found six juveniles suffering from gunshot wounds amid a large group of young people at the scene, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed with PEOPLE.
The six were taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds, per police. Another victim brought themself to the hospital with a gunshot wound, reportedly from the same incident, say police.
The victims are all between 12 and 16 years old, according to police. The youngest victim is a 12-year-old boy, and other victims include three 14-year-old girls, one 16-year-old girl and two 16-year-old boys.
One of the seven victims who was initially considered to be in “critical condition” has since been listed as stable, police said, according toWTHVandABC News.
7 juveniles injured in downtown Indianapolis shooting
On Monday, IMPD said they have issued “multiple search warrants” after reviewing surveillance footage and following several leads. They believe there was “more than one shooter involved,” IMPD said in a statement.
Two minors were arrested at the scene for resisting arrest, IMPD said, but did not say whether the two are tied directly to the shooting.
The shooting allegedly stemmed from a “situation where young people are resolving conflict with firearms,” IMPD’s deputy chief of operations Tanya Terry said, perNBC Newsand13News.
CBS4 Indy
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said they suspected there was a “disturbance that occurred right before” the shooting,ABC Newsreported.
“Someone or persons decided to use a gun to solve that problem, which is never the right answer,” he said at a news conference, per the outlet.
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“Let me be clear: a 12-year-old child has no business being out late at night anywhere without parental or adult supervision,” he said, per the outlet. “As important, there is no reason why a young person at any age should be in possession of a gun.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Albert Teaters at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or to email him atAlbert.Teaters@indy.gov.
source: people.com