INDIANAPOLIS — Investigators believe Indianapolis’ 78th homicide happened after an armed carjacking/robbery on the city’s Near east side. Both police and the victim’s family agree community cooperation is key to bringing justice.
The victim is identified as 46-year-old Gary Underwood, according to an IMPD report.
LATEST | Vehicle sought in fatal shooting, carjacking at gas station is found, Indianapolis police say
Underwood’s family said they are devastated.
"This is so unreal to me," his wife, Laura Underwood wrote to WRTV.
She said the 46-year-old was a father of six girls. He is a man she describes as a big teddy bear with a big heart. She said they were friends for years and recently got married.
“I’m begging them to find out who took an innocent man’s life,” his wife, Laura Underwood, wrote to WRTV.
On Tuesday, IMPD East District officers responded to the Citgo gas station on the 1800 block of North Rural Street where they found Underwood with a gunshot wound. Underwood later died at the hospital.
“We believe that someone knows something,” IMPD Public Information Officer William Young said.
PREVIOUS | Man fatally shot during carjacking at gas station in Near Eastside, Indianapolis police say
Investigators believe the shooting happened during an armed carjacking/robbery. The suspect took Underwood’s 2008 orange-colored GMC Hummer H3 with an Indiana plate reading 680TBR.
“It’s extremely important that we take this individual off the streets, and I would consider him armed and dangerous,” Young said.
Police describe the suspect as a black male in his late teens to early 20s, with a slender build between 5 feet and 7-10 inches tall. The man was seen wearing a blue Adidas hooded sweatshirt and red and black shoes.
IMPD is using surveillance video captured by the cameras outside the gas station in the investigation.
Underwood’s family, police and neighbors are asking if someone knows something to say something. Young said recent homicide arrests are because of community cooperation.
“I think that people in our community are saying, ‘Hey, we’re tired of violence,” Young said.
Anyone with more information was urged to contact IMPD Detective Ryan Clark at 317-327-3475 or Ryan.Clark@indy.gov. Tips may also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 (TIPS) or online.
-
Indy drag artist competing on current season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
Myst is one of only two Indianapolis-based queens to compete in the show's history; an honor she doesn't take lightly.
Young Hoosiers get political, staging school walkouts throughout the state
An expert spoke to WRTV's Amber Grigley about the younger generation's political involvement, and students say this is only the beginning.
Charges filed against teen accused of threatening Center Grove Schools
A multi-agency police operation has tracked down the man they believe made recent threats to Center Grove High School.
2-year-old northern Indiana boy found safe following AMBER Alert, suspect caught
A Starke County Sheriff’s Office statement reads, "The child has been located safely." The alleged suspect remains at large.
