Indy FOP: Teens Carry Guns Without Fear

INDIANAPOLIS — The president of the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police says charging a 16-year-old with shooting three people on Monument Circle is a step forward, but it’s only the beginning.

Rick Snyder says one of the most important details is that the teen is being charged as an adult, partly because of a past gun-related offense when he was a juvenile.

Court records show 16-year-old Terrell Andrews is facing a felony charge for unlawful gun possession. His first adult court hearing is set for Thursday. Police say the video shows Andrews holding a large handgun on Monument Circle, where he’s believed to have fired several shots.

“It shows no regard for the sanctity of life,” Snyder told WIBC News. “We’ve consistently pointed out that the value of life has disappeared in our capital city. People think nothing of pulling out a gun and shooting someone else and that mindset has trickled down to our children.”

Snyder says it’s not uncommon for Indy Metro Police to find guns on teenagers during street stops or traffic stops.

“We have some left-wing radicals who claim this is happening more often because Indiana changed its gun laws,” Snyder said. “But nothing could be further from the truth. Juveniles have never been allowed to legally possess firearms.”

He believes young people feel free to carry guns because they don’t fear the justice system.

“They don’t take the legal system seriously. They know it will not hold them accountable.”

Snyder also criticized the Marion County Prosecutor’s approach to violent crime.

“I think what’s been demonstrated by the Marion County Prosecutor is that he is more focused on his stats and his conviction rate without anyone digging deeper to see that those higher conviction rates come from sweetheart plea deals that he offers,” he said. “The conviction rates that he possesses are heavily inflated because he offers a plea bargain that allows for a conviction to be locked in but no time to be served.”