Dispute over fireworks leads to shootout between neighbors that left 1 dead and 3 wounded

INDIANAPOLIS — One woman is dead and three others wounded following a shootout between neighbors on Indy’s near northwest side.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday, a Fourth of July celebration led to a dispute between neighbors that erupted into gunfire.

Cell phone video shared by a neighbor clearly shows a man standing at his front door firing the first shot into a crowd of people next door.

Those victims then returned fire, leading to a shootout that left one woman dead.

“I’m frustrated because this could have been avoided. This didn’t have to happen,” said the woman who lives next to the suspect.

That woman asked not to be identified, but police reports show she called officers to the scene more than an hour before the shooting and claimed her neighbor threatened her family with a gun because they were setting off fireworks.

“He said if you keep lighting off fireworks I’m going to shoot something over there. That’s what he said,” said the woman.

While police investigated that initial disturbance, they left without making any arrests. After police drove away, video shows the suspect shoot into a crowd of neighbors.

Those neighbors shot back, shattering the glass on the suspect’s front door.

The suspect then went inside and allegedly continued to shoot out of a side window as his neighbors returned fire.

Heather Walters, a 48-year-old who was inside the suspect’s home, was killed in that crossfire.

“I mean what do we think is going to occur on July 4th?  People are going to use fireworks. That’s no reason to get into a disturbance and shoot at your neighbors. It makes no logical sense,” said IMPD chief Chris Bailey.

“It’s frustrating. It’s sad and it’s sickening, because it could have been avoided a long time ago,” said the neighbor.

That woman’s two sons were shot in the face and leg, but both survived.

Police reports confirm she called police multiple times in recent months to report issues with the same neighbor.

“I have numerous reports and calls on him for basically the same thing and the police came out and did nothing,” said the woman.

“Those type of incidents are hard for police to impact between people who should know how to deal with conflict, other than with a handgun,” said Bailey.

The neighbor who fired the first shot was hospitalized and faces possible criminal charges.

So far no other arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Detective Kevin Roell at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or e-mail the detective at Kevin.Roell@indy.gov .

Alternatively, they can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS) to remain anonymous.

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