Homicide investigation underway after body found on Indy’s near northeast side

INDIANAPOLIS — Police are searching for a killer after a man was found shot to death on the side of a road on Indy’s near northeast side.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the area of E. 21st Street and Sheldon Street just after 10 a.m. on report of a person down on the side of the road. This is a relatively secluded side street located near a metal fabrication plant.

Unfortunately, by the time police showed up the victim was dead on scene.

“When we arrived our officers determined this person had been shot so we are treating this as a homicide investigation,” said IMPD Sgt. William Young.

Police said shell casings were recovered near the victim’s body.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots in the area early Tuesday evening, but admit gunfire in the neighborhood happens all too often.

Police don’t know when the fatal shots were fired.

Police are not sure how long the victim had been dead at this scene before being discovered and investigators also don’t know what motivated the violence.

“We’ll be out here for quite some time trying to piece together exactly what occurred and figure out when this occurred,” said Young.

The death makes the 157th homicide of the year in Indianapolis.

That number is lower compared to the previous four years, but still significantly higher than any year prior to 2020.

“We know that violent crime is down throughout the city. Our officers come in day after day trying to reduce gun violence. That’s our primary focus and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” said Young.

The scene on Sheldon is surrounded by large industrial properties so police are hoping those businesses may have surveillance video of the crime, but with so little information and no obvious witnesses, police insist they need the community’s assistance to hold the killer accountable.

“I think the community has taken a stance saying enough is enough. So hopefully we’ll bring closure to this case as well. We still have a lot of work to do,” said Young.

Police did not have any detailed suspect information to release and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact Detective Jeremy Ingram at the IMPD Homicide Office at (317) 327-3475 or email him at Jeremy.Ingram@indy.gov

Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-8477 (TIPS) to remain anonymous.

Jesse Wells contributed to this report.

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