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.
-
54-year-old man dies following house fire in Bartholomew County
The death of a 54-year-old Taylorsville man remains under investigation following a house fire Monday afternoon in Bartholomew County.
IMPD investigating fatal hit-and-run crash involving pedestrian
Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian on the city's west side Tuesday morning.
Downtown coffee shop workers advocate for increased wages and paid family leave
Baristas at Quills Coffee in Downtown Indy are pushing to improve pay and benefits. This comes as the minimum wage in Indiana is $7.25 — a number that hasn’t gone up since 2009.
Indianapolis woman shares recovery story to help others in their journey
An Indianapolis woman is sharing her recovery story, hoping to inspire others struggling with addiction to seek help.
