Four Kids Facing Criminal Charges in Indy Mass Shooting

INDIANAPOLIS–Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Monday morning that four people are now charged for illegally possessing guns in Saturday’s mass shooting that happened in downtown Indianapolis.

The shooting happened near the intersection of South Illinois Street and West Washington Street Saturday morning around 1:30. Two people died and at least five others were injured.

All three kids are charged in this case with dangerous possession of a firearm. They are ages 16, 15, and 13. There’s also a 17-year-old named Vincent Lanking and he’s the one being charged as an adult. Police say Lanking ran from officers when they attempted to stop him near Monument Circle.

Here is the list of full charges from Mears:

A 13-year-old male has been charged with Theft of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana, and Dangerous Possession of a Firearm.

A 15-year-old male has been charged with Dangerous Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana, and Resisting Law Enforcement.*

A 16-year-old male has been charged with Dangerous Possession of a Firearm.*

“A 13-year-old alleged to be walking through the streets of downtown with a gun is ridiculous. We will continue to work with IMPD and our law enforcement partners to investigate how these firearms end up in the hands of our children,” said Mears.

State Representative Andrew Ireland is calling for accountability from county prosecutors and judges to convict offenders.

“If you’re not willing to do your job, then we need somebody else to step up,” Ireland said in an interview with WISH-TV’s Tim Spears.

Ireland co-authored HEA 1006, now signed into law, establishing a prosecutor review board to investigate complaints against prosecutors and withhold money from “noncompliant” prosecutors failing to enforce criminal laws.

He says that bill is a “small step” toward a series of criminal justice reforms he’s advocated for, including granting the governor power to fire prosecutors, breaking up the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office into nine individual office serving the county’s townships, and allowing voters to recall Marion County Superior Court judges.

Ireland also said that money “isn’t going to fix the problem.”

“We need enforcement. Right now, we don’t have somebody in the prosecutor’s office that’s serious about it. We don’t have a mayor in office who is serious about any of his duties,” said Ireland.