In the summer of 2019, a life was abruptly cut short on the east side of Indianapolis. Alvin Wesley Butler, a 24-year-old Black male, was fatally wounded on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. The incident unfolded in the broad daylight of late morning, a time when the city is usually bustling with activity.
According to accounts from witnesses at the scene, Butler was inside a vehicle when the unthinkable happened. A suspect, who was in a separate vehicle, opened fire, striking Butler.
The single gunshot proved to be fatal, and he later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The shooting occurred in the 7200 block of East 35th Street.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department opened a criminal homicide investigation. Despite their efforts, the case remains unsolved. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the death of Alvin Wesley Butler, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The circumstances leading up to the shooting and the motive behind it remain unclear, leaving a painful void for his family and community.
