On August 21, 2017, the Indianapolis community was shaken by the violent death of 19-year-old Black male Andre Simms. The incident occurred late that Monday evening in the 10000 block of East 42nd Street, specifically near a residence on Ellis Drive on the far east side of the city. Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched to the scene around 11:00 p.m. following reports of a person shot.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered Simms suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response of emergency personnel, the injuries proved fatal. The young man was pronounced dead, marking another tragedy in a string of violence that affected the city that year. Reports from the time indicated he was one of two individuals killed in separate shootings across Indianapolis that same night, further stretching the resources of local law enforcement.
In the years following the homicide, investigators have struggled to identify those responsible for Simms's death. Public records and cold case databases list the case as unsolved with no named suspects or arrests having been made. Police have previously appealed to the public for any information regarding the circumstances of the shooting, but the motive remains unclear, and the individual or individuals who pulled the trigger have yet to be brought to justice. The case remains open as authorities continue to seek leads that could provide answers to the grieving family.
