On January 24, 2021, a tragic mass shooting occurred at a residence in the 3500 block of Adams Street on the northeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana, claiming the lives of nearly an entire family. Among the victims was 42-year-old male Raymond Lee Childs Jr., a father and local music producer. The incident also resulted in the deaths of his wife, Kezzie Childs, 42, their daughter Rita, 13, and their son Elijah, 18.
Elijah’s 19-year-old girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins, who was days away from giving birth, was also killed, along with her unborn son, whom the family had named Khaos.
The sequence of violence reportedly began following a domestic dispute between Raymond Childs Jr. and his 17-year-old son, Raymond Childs III. The teenager had left the home without permission in his father’s vehicle and returned late, violating his curfew. After being reprimanded by his father, who told him there would be consequences for his actions, the younger Childs is accused of retrieving a firearm and systematically moving through the home, shooting his family members in different rooms. Raymond Childs Jr. was found deceased in the basement of the home.
A 15-year-old brother managed to escape the house despite sustaining gunshot wounds. He fled to a neighbor’s porch and pleaded for help, later providing critical testimony to investigators. While recovering in the hospital, the surviving teenager identified his older brother, Raymond Childs III, as the shooter to law enforcement. Police located and arrested the suspect the following day at a relative's home. He was subsequently charged as an adult with six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and carrying a handgun without a license.
Legal proceedings for the case extended over several years. A first trial in July 2024 ended in a mistrial due to a courtroom disturbance involving a witness. A retrial began in October 2024, where prosecutors presented evidence including the survivor's testimony and the fact that the suspect was found with the murder weapon. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning a guilty verdict on all counts. In March 2025, Raymond Childs III was sentenced to 360 years in prison, effectively six consecutive life sentences plus additional time for the attempted murder charge.
