INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indianapolis Metropolitan police say a man died after a shooting in downtown Indianapolis early Thursday morning, marking the city’s 100th murder of 2017.
Police found the victim with gunshot wounds on the sidewalk beneath the underpass at South Meridian Street just north of South Street.
The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Officers in the area heard gunshots and responded to find the man. He was taken to Eskenazi Hospital where he later died. He was identified as Johnny Woods, 34.
The shooting happened in one of the city’s popular bar areas. Officers are often present in the area Wednesday nights through Saturday and sometimes Sunday, according to Capt. Michael Elder with IMPD.
“We had officers at the Meridian Street corridor where the bars were. They heard shots fired,” Elder said. “We’ve got a few witnesses that may have seen some things that happened prior to the shooting, so we’re hoping to get some good leads out of this.”
Witnesses described the suspect as a black male with dreadlocks who was wearing a red shirt. He was driving a dark green or blue older model Chevrolet pickup truck.
Police believe the shooting was the result of a fight.
According to IMPD records, the shooting marked the 100th murder of the year and the 118th homicide. In 2016, IMPD investigated 110 murders and 126 homicides at this time last year.
