INDIANAPOLIS — A homicide investigation is underway after a 17-year-old male was shot and killed on the city's near north side early Sunday morning.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 2100 block of Central Avenue around 2:43 a.m.
Officers at the scene found a victim inside an apartment suffering from injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said. He was later identified as 17-year-old Xavieon Whitlow.
IMPD has not released any information on a potential suspect or person of interest at this time.
“Now I’ll never not hear his mother or grandmother screaming the wailing I cannot even imagine the kind of pain she was going through," said a resident who saw the scene.
She wishes to stay anonymous for personal reasons.
“It’s unfortunate we are having this conversation," she said. "The police have been called out numerous times as a result of Airbnbs rented out and then the party is getting out of control.”
She says after doing her own research and talking to people staying that many of the units are being rented out through a third party.
"I’m obviously worried about safety concerns with access to the premise that aren’t residents or haven’t gone through the same vetting and the same screening protocol that we all went through," she said.
Sunday afternoon, the grounds property manager sent out this letter we obtained from a resident.
It says in part, quote, “We can confirm the individual involved was a guest of a temporary visitor. That individual’s access to the property has been permanently revoked.”
Apartment managers say they are planning on adding more security in the coming weeks.
Homicide detectives, the Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency and the Marion County Coroner have begun their investigation.
IMPD is asking anyone with information to contact Detective James Hurt via phone at 317-327-3475 or via email at James.Hurt@indy.gov. Those who wish to report anonymously can call 317-262-8477.
