In the quiet early morning hours of October 30, 2017, a sense of unease settled over the 1500 block of South Goodlet Avenue in Indianapolis. At approximately 1:20 a.m., the calm was shattered by the sound of gunfire, prompting calls to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered 45-year-old Veronica D. Hayes, an African-American woman, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Tragically, her injuries were fatal, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Veronica was known to her friends and family for her easygoing and kind nature. A mother of four, she worked in customer service where her pleasant demeanor was a familiar comfort to those she interacted with. Her sudden and violent death sent shockwaves through her community, leaving a void in the lives of her loved ones. The investigation into her murder was briefly complicated by an accidental fire that broke out in the attic of the residence while detectives were processing the scene. The Indianapolis Fire Department quickly determined the fire was caused by a blanket placed too close to a lamp and was unrelated to the homicide.
Despite the efforts of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Veronica's case grew cold. As of the most recent available information, her murder remains unsolved, and no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested in connection with her death. Community members have held vigils and continue to advocate for justice, hoping that one day, answers will be found and her killer will be brought to justice, offering some measure of peace to her grieving family.
