Gary L Dunlap

In the late hours of a Friday night in Indianapolis, the vibrant atmosphere of Patty's Showclub on West Washington Street was shattered by gunfire. On March 20, 2010, Gary Lee Dunlap, a 21-year-old male, was fatally wounded in a shooting that also left two other individuals injured. Emergency services were called to the scene just before 11:30 p.m., where they discovered Dunlap and two others suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Dunlap was rushed to Methodist Hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries shortly after 7:00 a.m. the following morning.

The club was filled with patrons at the time of the incident, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department quickly began interviewing numerous witnesses. Investigators pieced together a description of a lone gunman, believed to be a light-skinned Hispanic male in his 30s, with a stocky build, standing approximately 5'9' and weighing around 240 pounds. He was reported to have short black hair and may have been wearing a black baseball cap with gold lettering, a gray and white checkered shirt, and light-colored blue jeans. It is believed he fled the scene in a blue Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Detectives at the time suggested that the shooting may have been targeted towards a specific table within the club, though the motive remained unclear. The investigation faced challenges, including a language barrier with some of the witnesses. Despite the detailed description of the suspect and his vehicle, and the numerous individuals present at the time of the shooting, there have been no publicly reported arrests, and the case of Gary L. Dunlap's death appears to remain unresolved. The gunman who cut his life short seemingly vanished, leaving behind a family to grieve and a community with unanswered questions.