3 children arrested with weapons in downtown Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS — We're learning more about the hundreds of unsupervised children the IMPD chief says were downtown last weekend, some of whom police say had weapons.

Some business owners told 13News they had to close early because of the large number of children.

A woman who works on Illinois Street, between Ohio and Maryland streets downtown, said there were hundreds of children unsupervised. She said some of them were shouting at each other while others were fighting.

“So from what we were told, there were about 400 unsupervised kids downtown. They were still having trouble with them. Shots were fired. I think we were said there had been thefts and attempted break-ins into police cars,” the reverend said. Dr. Charles Harrison, President of the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition.

Harrison said he has been walking the streets of Indianapolis for 25 years to keep children out of trouble.

RELATED: IMPD says they found 3 teens with guns over the weekend: Chief's remarks contradict their claim

But just like the downtown landscape, the challenges it faces have also changed.

“Our main concern back then was getting the kids home without a fight. Today it's a lot different because there are so many kids with guns today,” Harrison said.

The reverend said he and other ministers try to help IMPD when dealing with unsupervised children downtown late at night.

“Our presence downtown tends to keep the kids in line because we can say things to the kids and the kids tend to respect us when we're there,” Harrison said.

In a statement from IMPD sent to 13News Thursday, the department says three juveniles were arrested for gun possession.

“Parents need to step up. If you have a 12-year-old, a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old, a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old, or a 17-year-old, you should know whether they have a weapon or not You should be responsible for their presence downtown and making sure that if they come, they act appropriately or what we would want is for them to come with their parents. to ensure they would behave appropriately,” Harrison said.

13News contacted IMPD Chief Chris Bailey for an interview about the large number of inner city children after a story published Wednesday, but an IMPD spokesperson said Bailey would not be available to talk.

At a meeting earlier this week, the Chief responded to a community member regarding the ease of access to firearms in our community. In response to this community member, he intended to make it clear that while there were crowds of young people downtown, too many of them, not “most,” had firearms. This clarification was provided to the journalist.

Further discussion of the chief's statement, which has already been clarified, does not benefit the interests of public safety or our community.

IMPD arrested three juveniles in downtown Indy this past weekend for dangerous possession of a firearm. IMPD continues to fight and try to prevent minors from accessing firearms.

We are grateful to IMPD Real-Time Crime Center analysts who observed the juveniles on cameras and were able to immediately communicate with nearby officers who acted quickly. IMPD continues to ask parents and guardians to know where your children are, who they are with, and what they are doing.