On November 10, 2019, tragedy struck on the far east side of Indianapolis, Indiana, claiming the life of Joachim Rates, an 18-year-old Black male who had recently celebrated a birthday. The events unfolded on a Sunday evening as Rates was driving his newly purchased black Cadillac, a vehicle he had bought as a gift to himself. He was accompanied by his cousin, whom he intended to drop off at a girlfriend's house in the 1500 block of Tina Marie Circle.
Just prior to the incident, the pair had stopped at a Speedway convenience store near Washington Square Mall, a decision that investigators later determined was pivotal to the timeline of the crime.
While at the gas station, Rates and his cousin noticed they were being watched by individuals whom Rates recognized as former schoolmates. According to accounts provided to investigators, these individuals followed the Cadillac as it left the station. Rates had recently shared posts on social media displaying large amounts of cash, a new cellphone, and a handgun he had acquired, which police believe may have made him a target for robbery. As he arrived at the residence on Tina Marie Circle around 6:00 p.m., the situation escalated violently.
Neighbors in the quiet residential area reported hearing the sharp crack of gunfire ringing out in the early evening air. Witnesses subsequently observed two men fleeing the scene on foot. Rates was found lying on the ground next to his vehicle, critically wounded. In his final moments, he was able to speak to his cousin, uttering the words 'They got me' before losing consciousness. Emergency responders rushed him to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His wallet, containing the cash he had flaunted, and his nine-millimeter pistol were missing from the scene.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation, collecting Rates' phone to trace his communications and movements leading up to the ambush. Despite the cousin's testimony that they were followed and the identification of the individuals as former classmates, the case has faced significant hurdles. Detectives reportedly have the names of potential suspects but have been unable to secure a witness willing to testify in court, stalling the legal process.
In the years following the murder, no arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed. The case remains classified as an unsolved homicide. Rates' parents, Tammie and William Rates, have publicly pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, expressing frustration over the 'no snitch' culture that has prevented the closure of their son's case. They remember him as a young man who loved video games and sports, emphasizing that he was not involved in street life despite the circumstances of his death. The investigation remains open as authorities continue to seek the evidence necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.
