On May 23, 2016, 31-year-old Black male Carl Rice Jr. was fatally shot during a violent altercation at a residence on bankers Lane near Washington Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched to the scene following reports of a disturbance. Upon arrival, they discovered Rice suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite emergency response efforts, the injury proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation revealed that the confrontation stemmed from an earlier domestic dispute involving Rice and a woman related to one of the suspects.
Detectives determined that the shooting was not a random act but the result of an escalated conflict. Reports indicated that Robert Curry, then 27 years old, went to Rice's home accompanied by his brother and two women, Alexis Cole and Mariah Echols. The group had allegedly overheard a disturbance between Rice and Curry's sister, which prompted them to confront Rice. The situation quickly turned physical, with Curry and his brother reportedly beating Rice before Curry drew a weapon and fired a single shot into Rice's chest. Following the shooting, all four individuals fled the scene, traveling across state lines to Ohio in an attempt to evade law enforcement.
A multi-state manhunt ensued, leading to the apprehension of the suspects two days later by U.S. Marshals in Ohio. They were subsequently extradited back to Indiana to face charges. Robert Curry was charged with voluntary manslaughter for his role as the shooter. In March 2018, a Marion County jury found him guilty of the charge. The two women involved also faced legal consequences; Mariah Echols pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit battery, while Alexis Cole pleaded guilty to carrying a handgun without a license, assisting a criminal, and intimidation. Both women testified against Curry during his trial, providing testimony that contributed to his conviction.
