For the second day in a row, unintentional gun violence killed an Indianapolis, Indiana teenager. In today’s incident, Michael Mason, Jr., a 16-year old, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a local mall when he and a friend mistakenly approached a white Chevy Impala that was identical to his own.  When Mason reached for the handle of the car, a passenger fired multiple shots, one of which struck and killed Mason.  His friend was struck four times in the leg, but is expected to survive.

According to one report, the shooter exited the vehicle in order to fire additional rounds.  No decision has been made about prosecution.

The race of the victims may have played a role in the incident. “You send your kids to the mall, you expect them to come home,” said a local Pastor who was the father of one of the victims. “You don’t expect them to be living in a battlefield or something.”

Sources:

Jesse Wells, “Mistake Over Identical Cars May Have Led to Homicide of 16-year-old at Castleton Square Mall,” cbs4indy.com (January 4, 2023).

John Doran, “Families of Victims Speak Out After Deadly Shooting at Castleton Square Mall,” wthr.com (January 6, 2023).