On the early morning of July 9, 2013, 22-year-old Black African American male Terrance D. Williams stood outside the 16 Park apartment complex on the near north side of Indianapolis, Indiana. It was shortly after 1:30 a.m., and Williams was in the company of his 24-year-old cousin in the 1600 block of Park Avenue. At the time, Williams was holding a four-month-old baby girl in his arms, standing near the entrance of the mixed-income housing development that had recently celebrated its grand
opening.
The quiet of the summer night was shattered when a vehicle approached the two men. According to police reports, two individuals were inside the car, and one of them exited the vehicle and opened fire on the group. Williams was struck in the chest by the gunfire. As he fell, he dropped the infant he had been holding. The baby’s mother, who was nearby, later expressed gratitude that her daughter was not hit by the bullets, believing Williams’s body may have shielded the child during the attack. The infant was taken to Riley Hospital for Children as a precaution but was found to be uninjured.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene following 911 calls reporting shots fired and screaming. Despite their efforts, Williams was pronounced dead at the location. His cousin, who had also been targeted, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported to Wishard Hospital, where he was treated and expected to recover from his injuries. Investigators scouring the scene discovered drug paraphernalia near where the victim fell, though law enforcement officials stated at the time that the motive for the shooting remained unclear and they had not determined if the incident was drug-related.
In the years following the shooting, no arrests have been reported in connection with the death of Terrance Williams. Detectives at the time appealed to the community for leads, asking anyone who might have seen the vehicle or the gunmen to come forward. Despite the presence of witnesses and the violent nature of the crime committed in a residential area, the case has seen no public announcements regarding suspects, charges, or convictions, leaving the homicide unsolved.
