INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD arrested a suspect Thursday in the deadly shooting of a 47-year-old man on Indianapolis' near northeast side earlier in the week, the department announced Friday.
Around 9:45 a.m. Monday, April 22, officers found the body of Christopher Brown, who had been shot, lying in the road near 25th Street and Hillside Avenue. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene, and he was identified by the coroner's office the next day.
After the incident, detectives told 13News the shooting resulted from an argument between two men that started inside the New Bridge Apartments complex. The suspected gunman allegedly targeted Brown, who may have been running for safety.
According to courts documents, security video caught the incident and shows the suspect fire eights shots at the victim before he jogged back to his car and fled the scene. Multiple witnesses confirmed they saw the suspect flee away in his car after the shooting, including two employees who heard the suspect say, "I'll shoot you and I'll kill you right here," just minutes before the incident, according to the documents.
On April 26, IMPD announced the arrest of a 29-year-old man on a preliminary murder charge. He was taken into custody April 28 in the 4600 block of South Harding Street, near Interstate 465 on the city's south side.
(NOTE: 13News does not name suspects in cases until formal charges are filed by prosecutors.)
"I feel like a broken record. We're saying this over and over again that resolving conflict with firearms or with any weapon is not the way to do it," IMPD Lt. Shane Foley said.
Police said thanks to witnesses coming forward, detectives believe they have identified who the suspected shooter is.
"Every time you look up, somebody getting killed," Detra Nichols told 13News on Monday.
"I saw him," Nichols said of Brown, as she was driving by the area.
Emotions began building up inside of her, so she parked at a nearby strip mall.
"I almost cried. I didn't even know who it was. It's just a sad situation. Another family is about to get a call about their loved one being killed laying in the middle of the street," Nichols said.
Nichols lost her cousin, 29-year-old Julius Simpson, to gunfire in the same apartment community in March 2023.
"We still can't believe that really happened. He was the sweetest person you'll ever want to know," said Nichols, who tried to get Simpson to move to another community.
Nichols said if everyone learned how to deal with conflict without resorting to gun violence, her loved one would still be alive.
"I'm really scared for my grandchildren that's growing up in this society and in this world, ya know?" Nichols said.
Neighbors are calling for change.
"I just wish it was something we could do as a community," Nichols said.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to contact Detective Ryan Clark at the IMPD Homicide Office 317-327-3475 or Ryan.Clark@indy.gov.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 3172-26-8477.