INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis community leaders and IMPD officials are reacting to Saturday night's mass shooting that injured seven young people between the ages of 12 and 17 in downtown Indianapolis.
"Where do seven people get shot at one time... other than a war zone? This is a crisis," said Olgen Williams, a west side community organizer and former Indianapolis deputy mayor.
Williams had one question for the parents of the children involved.
"Do you know where your child is at 10 p.m. at night? Do you know where he or she is at? Do you know? You should know. If you knew where your child is at they wouldn't be downtown shooting people," Williams said.
IMPD leaders echoed that thought at the shooting March 30 near West Maryland and South Illinois streets.
"We would ask that parents get involved in what their children are doing, especially at these hours in the evening," said Tanya Terry, IMPD Deputy Chief. "This was 11:30 at night. So, if you don't know where your 12-year-old is, I think that should be a priority for you."
Until things change, Williams said the city should explore other options.
"We ought to look at a youth curfew in Marion County to help protect the youth themselves and our community," Williams said.
The IMPD chief said it's not that simple.
"If we start taking individual juveniles to the juvenile center for curfew then our resources are depleted to deal with it down here," said Christopher Bailey, IMPD chief. "Number one, I don't know if they would take them when we take take them to the juvenile detention center. Then what happens to them where they're there?"