A 16-year-old is being charged as an adult after allegedly shooting another juvenile in the face.
At 7:17 p.m., on Jan. 2, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called about a person shot at a home in the 2500 block of East 16th Street. Officers found a juvenile boy shot in the face on the porch with a pistol revolver in his pants. He was taken to Methodist Hospital, according to court records.
Investigators on the scene followed a blood trail from the home through an alley to Brookside North Drive, less than half a mile away. The boy told police he walked over to meet someone he described as a friend. Charging documents state that when a gray GMC Tahoe pulled up, the friend got out with a semiautomatic handgun and demanded cash. Even after getting the money, the friend shot the boy in the face, according to court records.
The boy ran to a neighbor’s house for help. His mother would later tell police her son had three teeth shot out and his sinus cavity was damaged.
The Marion County prosecutor is charging the 16-year-old accused of shooting him with robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, aggravated battery posing substantial risk of death, dangerous possession of a firearm and unlawful carrying of a handgun.
The arrest comes as youth violence continues to be a consistent issue in Indianapolis. IMPD data shows multiple fatal and non-fatal shootings involving juveniles that began late last year. With youth making headlines, juvenile violence has continued since the start of 2026, before the spring and summer, which is when police normally see an increase in youth crime.
Youth violence has been prevalent since the start of 2026
As recently as March 10, a juvenile was shot at Amber Woods Apartments in the 10000 block of John Marshall Drive.
Hours before, city leaders announced a juvenile connection center for teen curfew violators would be operating downtown with volunteer community organizations as part of a public safety plan during spring break.
Incidents in the past few months include:
‘Something’s got to give’
Indy FOP President Rick Snyder held a news conference on Feb. 26 to discuss youth violence in the city.
“We need parents to fulfill their obligations: get a handle on your children…If you don’t, we will,” Snyder wrote in response to the shootings. “And they will quickly find themselves facing criminal court consequences and quite possibly charged as adults.”
Following the officer-involved shooting, IMPD Chief Tanya Terry said, “Something’s got to give.”
“We’re talking about teenagers here. Families, members of our community, you have got to get involved in these teenagers’ lives,” Terry said.
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 16-year-old charged as adult as Indianapolis youth violence continues
Reporting by Jade Jackson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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