Two people were killed and five others injured in a mass shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of September 21, 2025, in the parking lot of a shopping center on the northwest side of Indianapolis, Indiana. The incident took place just after 2 a.m. in the 6800 block of Shore Terrace, near a shopping center close to the 38th Street exit on Interstate 465.
Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a person shot and discovered five victims at the scene suffering from gunshot wounds. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were transported to area hospitals by emergency medical services. The deceased victims were later identified by the Marion County Coroner’s Office as 38-year-old Rodney Allen Taylor and 29-year-old Dante Lynn Hogans.
Two additional victims connected to the shooting sought medical attention independently. One person walked into a local hospital with a gunshot wound, while another victim went to an area fire station for assistance. Police believe both individuals were shot at the same location on Shore Terrace. According to medical reports, three victims remained in critical condition, while two others were listed in serious but stable condition.
The shooting occurred near Vibez Ultra Lounge, which describes itself as a newly remodeled lounge bar. The business released a statement on social media extending condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Initial police investigation revealed that a disturbance had occurred before the shooting, though authorities did not provide specific details about the nature of the disturbance.
Police Chief Chris Bailey provided additional details during a news conference on September 23, explaining that witness accounts indicated one man grabbed a handgun from another man’s waist and began shooting. The man whose weapon was taken then pulled a second firearm and shot the first individual. Bailey noted that a third, unidentified person may have also fired shots during the incident.
Investigators later corrected their initial assessment of the victims’ roles in the shooting. Additional video footage and evidence suggested that one of the men killed was the primary shooter who ultimately shot five people, including the other person who died. Police believe the primary shooter was then shot and killed by one of the individuals he was targeting. The second man killed is not believed to have been a shooter and may have been an unintentional victim.
The incident was part of a violent 24-hour period in Indianapolis that saw multiple shooting incidents across the city. Earlier on September 20, at approximately 10:40 p.m., a separate triple shooting occurred at the Cross Creek Shopping Center in the 5600 block of Georgetown Road, about 4.5 miles from the mass shooting location. Three people were injured in that incident, and Carlos Eduardo Contreras, 21, was arrested on preliminary charges including resisting law enforcement, possession of a machine gun, and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon.
Additionally, on September 20 at around 6:30 p.m., officers responded to a McDonald’s restaurant on East 38th Street where a 34-year-old man had allegedly threatened employees while armed with a gun. When officers confronted the suspect, a struggle ensued, resulting in an officer-involved shooting. The suspect was not struck by gunfire and was apprehended after fleeing the restaurant. No officers or uninvolved community members were injured in this incident.
Police Chief Bailey expressed the department’s commitment to investigating the violence, stating that IMPD officers and detectives have been working continuously to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. He praised the courage and professionalism of the officers involved in the weekend’s incidents. Bailey acknowledged that such events can impact the community’s sense of safety but emphasized that IMPD remains fully engaged in keeping neighborhoods safe.
Mayor Joe Hogsett also responded to the weekend violence on social media, thanking IMPD officers for their work and expressing confidence in the city’s resilience. He encouraged community cooperation in bringing those responsible to justice and addressing the causes of violence.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the mass shooting and are seeking information from the public. Detective Christopher Winter of the IMPD Homicide Office is leading the investigation and can be reached at 317-327-3475 or Christopher.Winter@indy.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to a felony arrest in the case.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office is assisting with the investigation and will determine the exact manner and cause of death for the victims. Police have asked the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues. No arrests have been announced in connection with the mass shooting as of the latest reports.
