UPDATE: The two victims killed in this shooting have been identified as 29-year-old man Andre Caldwell and 48-year-old man Jimmy Jones.
INDIANAPOLIS – Police are investigating after a deadly shooting Saturday morning left two people dead.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called to the Budget 8 Inn at 6850 E 21st Street just before 5:30 a.m. where two people were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police originally listed one person in critical condition and declared the other deceased. Police later announced the first victim had also succumbed to their injury.
Police said that roughly an hour after officers responded to the Budget 8 Inn, officers were called to the 2300 block of E. 30th Street where a man was found suffering from a serious gunshot injury. Police suspect this third individual may be connected to the Budget 8 Inn shooting, but said at this time that cannot be confirmed.
”When you look at the last three years, the city has had over 200 homicides,” said area pastor Rev. Charles Harrison. “The hope is that was not the new normal in the city.”
Last year, multiple shootings and stabbings were reported at the Budget 8 Inn. Along with an underage drinking party that led to guns being found and multiple people being arrested. In 2021, police responded to the motel 900 times.
Not only do residents know the Budget 8 Inn is a crime hotspot in the city, but even visitors like David Starnes know it too.
”I was mugged one night. Some guys hit me on my back end and tried to swipe my wallet. I broke my finger, he broke my nose. So I stay mainly on the northside of town now,” said Starnes.
For now, police are doing what they can to stop the violence.
”Our detectives work continuously and extremely hard to combat gun violence in our community. I think they’ve taken a stand as you saw last year with the amount of arrests we made, the community said, ‘hey we’re tired too,'” said IMPD Ofc. William Young.
Police have not released any further information as the investigation remains active and ongoing.
No suspect has been detained at this time.
Anyone with information about the shooting can contact Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
