Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Indianapolis police announced the arrest of a juvenile boy in the shooting deaths of six family members, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
The gunman was injured but is expected to survive.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Randal Taylor said the boy, who was not identified because of his age, allegedly committed the "largest mass casualty shooting in more than a decade."
"Yesterday, we promised swift justice for this heinous act. Today, we delivered on that promise," Taylor said in a statement.
"While removing the alleged perpetrator of yesterday's mass murder from our neighborhoods does not bring back the lives senselessly lost, hopefully, it will bring us one step closer to healing as a community. I am grateful to all of the IMPD officers and criminal justice partners who have worked tirelessly for the last 30-plus hours to bring justice for these victims, their friends and families, and our entire community. I ask community members to join me in praying for the continued recovery of the young man whose life has been forever changed."
Killed in the shooting were Kezzie and Raymond Childs, both 42; Elijah Childs, 18; Rita Childs,13; 19-year-old Kiara Hawkins and her unborn child.
The gunman fired at the occupants of a home in northern Indianapolis around 4 a.m. Sunday. He was hospitalized with gunshot wounds and is likely to survive, police said.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said Sunday that local police and federal authorities are investigating the case.
"What happened this morning was not a simple act of gun violence," he said. "What happened this morning was a mass murder."
Police did not believe there was any further danger to the community or other suspects, they said Monday.
