Indianapolis killings in January 2024
IndyStar is tracking each killing to better understand violence in the city. This list is preliminary, and the number of homicides can change as authorities investigate each case, determining whether the slaying was criminal, justified, accidental or suicide. IndyStar has excluded cases ruled accidents, suicides, fatal overdoses or hit-and-run deaths unless they were deemed intentional. This information is compiled using data from Indianapolis police, court records and interviews with family and friends of those killed. Anyone with information that could help a homicide investigation is asked to call the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 to remain anonymous.
Shooting on Foxtail Drive leaves one man dead
Jan. 14: Officers responded to the 3600 block of Foxtail Drive around 4 a.m. on a report of a person shot. They found a man inside a residence with gunshot injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe a disturbance occurred before the shooting.
One person, who police believe was responsible for the shooting, was detained then released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Christopher Winter, Christopher.Winter@indy.gov.
Kason Dixon, 25, dies after arriving at hospital with gunshot wounds
Jan. 13: At approximately 12:30 a.m., officers responded to Community East Hospital, on a report of a walk-in person shot. They found a man with gunshot injuries.
The man was pronounced dead by medical staff and later identified as 25-year-old Kason Dixon. Investigators believe the shooting occurred near East 21st Street and North Shadeland Avenue, where a crime scene was located.
Lead detective: Christopher Morgan, Christopher.Morgan@indy.gov.
Jason Brookshire, 23, dies in shooting on Autumn Woods Drive
Jan. 12: Officers responded to the 8900 block of Autumn Woods Drive around 7:30 p.m. on a report of a person shot.
They found a man in the courtyard of an apartment complex on the ground with gunshot injuries. He died at a hospital and multiple people were detained at the scene.
The man killed was identified as 23-year-old Jason Brookshire.
Investigators believe a disturbance occurred before the shooting. One of the detained individuals is believed to be the person responsible for the shooting, but they were released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Anthony Johnson, Anthony.Johnson@indy.gov.
Mary Sims, 77, found dead inside residence on Landola Lane
Jan. 12: Police responded to the 2900 block of Landola Lane on the southwest side of the city around 5:30 p.m. on a disturbance report. Officers found an unresponsive woman with trauma inside a home.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and later identified as 77-year-old Mary Sims.
Officers detained 18-year-old Zakii Dawson as a person of interest. He was arrested in connection with the death, police announced the day after the killing.
Sims and Dawson knew each other, according to investigators.
Lead detective: David Miller David.Miller2@indy.gov
Britney Danielle Long, 27, dies in shooting on Euclid Avenue
Jan 10: Police responded to the 2900 block of North Euclid Avenue on the east side of the city on a report of a person shot.
They found 27-year-old Britney Danielle Long with a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital with grave injuries and died four days later.
Her fiancé, 32-year-old Jomal Tyler, was taken into custody after police say he told investigators he left his gun on their bed and it "went off" while they slept. In court records, police noted the Indiana Department of Child Services had open assessments of domestic violence against the couple.
More:Man arrested after fiancée shot in head
Shooting on Barrington Avenue leaves Rondre Jackson, 19, dead
Jan. 7: Officers responded to the 2700 block of Barrington Avenue on the southeast side of the city on a report of a person shot.
They found a man outside with gunshot injuries, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as 19-year-old Rondre Jackson.
Lead detective: Douglas Swails, Douglas.Swails@indy.gov
Man killed in downtown shooting on East Washington Street
Jan. 5: Officers responded to the 200 block of East Washington Street downtown on a report of a person shot around 10 p.m.
They found a man with gunshot injuries and he was transported to an area hospital in critical condition. The man was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Lead detective: Gary Smith, Gary.Smith@indy.gov
Derrick Curtis Perry II, 32, killed, one person detained in shooting at northeast side apartments
Jan. 4: Officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of Lakeshore Place on the northeast side of the city a report of a person shot around 10:15 p.m.
They found a man in the common area of an apartment building with gunshot injuries. The man, identified as 32-year-old Derrick Curtis Perry II, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives detained a person they believe is responsible for the shooting who was later released pending further investigation.
The person detained and Perry know each other, according to the police, but their relationship has not been confirmed.
Lead detective: James Hurt, James.Hurt@indy.gov
Damon Lamar Swanigan Jr., 22, killed during attempted home invasion on Marseille Road
Jan. 2: Officers were called to the 3700 block of Marseille Road on the east side of Indianapolis on a report of a home invasion in progress around 7 p.m.
The homeowner called 911 and said a person was breaking into their home and that shots were being fired, IMPD Capt. Don Weilhammer said.
Officers found Damon Lamar Swanigan Jr., 22, outside the house with gunshot injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The homeowner "is OK" and was transported to IMPD's homicide office for an interview with detectives, Weilhammer said. The homeowner was later released pending further investigation.
Police believe there was an exchange of gunfire between the homeowner and the suspect or suspects in the home invasion.
Detectives are looking for other witnesses with information on the shooting and believe at least one other person was involved in the home invasion.
"We are hoping that somebody else saw something here or that there are cameras around from some of the neighbors,” Weilhammer said.
Lead detective: Douglas Morning, Douglas.Morning@indy.gov
Justin Boyd II, Jasmine Ivy-Dede die in double-shooting New Year's eve
Jan. 1: A man has been arrested in the killings of an Indianapolis firefighter and a woman who were found dead with gunshot wounds inside a crashed car on Monday.
Jason Dante Lapsley, 52, was taken into custody by Indianapolis police Monday night, just hours after the double homicide. He's jailed on two counts of murder.
Details about his alleged connection to the double shooting were not immediately available. Police said evidence, including help from community members, led to Lapsley's arrest.
Officers were called shortly before 6 a.m. Monday to a reported vehicle crash at Michigan Road and Grandview Drive. Responding police found the man, identified as Justin Boyd II, 45, and the woman, identified as Jasmine Ivy-Dede, 42, inside a pickup off the road. Both died at the scene from gunshot wounds. Their deaths were among the city's first homicides of the new year.
Lead detective: Michael Wright, michael.wright@indy.gov.
More:Arrest made in double shooting that killed IFD firefighter, 42-year-old woman
Bryan Foley, 40, dies in shooting on Boulevard Place
Jan. 1: Just after 1 a.m. officers responded to the 3100 block of Boulevard Place on a report of a person shot. Officers arrived and Bryan Foley, 40, inside with gunshot injuries. Foley was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead by medical staff.
Investigators detained a person of interest and the scene and believe a family disturbance occurred before the shooting. The person was released pending further investigation.
Lead detective: Ronal Sayles, ronald.sayles@indy.gov