Police: Teen's fatal shooting on Tapp Drive was self-defense after attempted robbery
A homeowner shot and killed a teen during an attempted robbery on Indianapolis' east side early Wednesday morning, police said.
Two people were in a car in front of their home when multiple people approached the vehicle. At least one person in this group, including the deceased, had a gun, police said.
The teen attempted to rob the people in the car, Sgt. Frank Wooten said. Wooten said officers believe the homeowner, who was detained and taken in for questioning, acted in self-defense.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers responded to the home in the 11900 block of Tapp Drive at about 4:20 a.m. on a report of a person shot. When they arrived they found the teen outside of a house with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on scene.
The deceased was identified as Armohnie Preswood, 16, by the Marion County Coroner's Office.
Detectives, officers and the forensics team were on the scene collecting evidence for several hours, an IMPD spokesperson said. Detectives are working to identify others who may have been involved with the shooting.
The case will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for formal review and charging determination.
Irene Davis, who has lived in the neighborhood for 13 years, said she usually takes her morning walk on Tapp Drive after watching her kids get on their school bus.
"I'm shocked," she said. "I'm in shock."
She said there's never been a shooting in the neighborhood, describing it as "very kid friendly."
Joyce Kefauver has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years and feels similarly about the neighborhood. She said there have been no homicides in the neighborhood to her knowledge.
"It's quiet, we wave," she said. "It's just kind of baffling that this would happen."
This is the second fatal self-defense shooting in the past week.
A home invasion resulted in the fatal shooting of Steve Sheppard Jr., 64, inside a residence Friday morning, according to police. Sheppard was found in a house in the 900 block of West 34th Street with at least one gunshot wound.
Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives in an early investigation believe the shooting occurred during a home invasion or robbery.
Anyone with information about the shooting on Tapp Drive should call Detective Andrew McKalips at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email the detective at Andrew.McKalips@indy.gov.
Alternatively, call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 or (TIPS) to remain anonymous.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis crime: Tapp Drive shooting was self-defense, police say
