INDIANAPOLIS — A man is dead, and two other people are injured after a shooting inside a barber shop on the east side of Indianapolis, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
IMPD said an officer was patrolling the area of East 10th Street and North Bosart Avenue when he noticed two men fleeing. The officer briefly chased after them on foot before detaining them.
During the chase, police received a call regarding a shooting at Champz Barber Shop, located just west of Bosart Avenue at 4615 East 10th Street.
“As officers arrived, they located three people here at the scene with injuries,” said IMPD Sergeant Genae Cook.
Police said inside the barber shop, officers found a man dead and a woman injured. The deceased was later identified as Kevin Lamont Stigger, 24.
IMPD said the woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Another man who had fled from the barber shop in search of medical attention was found injured at the Chase Bank across the street, police added. According to police, the man located at the bank was said to be in stable condition and was taken to an area hospital.
IMPD confirmed that both men detained after a short pursuit were subsequently taken to the IMPD Homicide Office for questioning related to the shooting. No arrests have been announced.
“It’s just heartbreaking. They need to put the guns down. They really do. This doesn’t make any sense at all,” said Dacia Shelman. “Now somebody’s parent is gonna have to bury their kid just because their kid was in a barber shop getting a haircut. It’s senseless.”
Community members were working to make sense of the act of violence that happened inside the business. At the same time, investigators were canvassing the area, collecting evidence and speaking with witnesses to determine what led up to the shooting.
“There is a lot of speculation as to what led up this,” said Cook.
It’s not clear how many people were inside the business at the time of the shooting, but police said that was something they were working to determine Friday afternoon.
“If there’s anyone who left the scene, we ask that they come back,” said Cook.
Shelman said she was supposed to get a haircut from her cousin at the barbershop Friday afternoon. She was on her way when she heard about the shooting.
“I was just hoping and praying it wasn’t him. I kept calling and calling and calling and he wasn’t answering. I was like I just got off work and have to go up to see if he’s okay,” said Dacia.
“If he had been where he cuts hair at, he would have been shot,” she said.
Thankfully, Shelman said her family member is okay, but at the same time, she is heartbroken for everyone impacted by the shooting.
“Put the guns down. Stop. I’m 51 and when I was coming up, we fought. We didn’t play the gun game. Now everybody’s carrying guns. Everybody’s ready to pull them out. You can’t say nothing to nobody,” Shelman said.
Shelman added, “it’s called conflict resolution. It needs to be taught more in the schools, it needs to be taught more at home because you can’t take your anger out and just go out and kill somebody.”
IMPD also said it is calling on community members to pitch in and work together to find solutions.
“How many families are we going to be telling that they’ve lost a loved one or that they were injured? Those are the things officers think about and things we all think about constantly,” said Cook.
“We have put together so many programs to ease gun violence. There are places around here that will help take guns off the street. There’s places where you can go to seek help if you think you’re violent; there’s people that are here,” Cook said.
IMPD Chaplains also responded to the scene Friday to assist family members of any victims and witnesses after the shooting.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jose Torres at the IMPD Homicide Office by calling (317) 327-3475 or via email at Jose.Torres@indy.gov.
Alternatively, you can also call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous. Anyone with information that leads to a felony arrest may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
