Arrest made in Sherman Drive shooting that left five wounded

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Aggravated Assault detectives identify and arrest Dejuan Brown (38) for his alleged role in the shooting on Sherman Drive that left five wounded on 01/26/2019.

Just after 2 a.m. on 01/26/2019, officers with the IMPD were dispatched to a bar in the 2900 block of N Sherman Dr on reports of a person shot. Responding officers located three victims who were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began providing first aid, applying a tourniquet to one of the victims who had a possible arterial bleed. EMS personnel transported two victims to Eskenazi Hospital and one victim to Methodist Hospital. Additional calls came in from Community East Hospital reporting that two gunshot victims had walked in and were being treated. Further investigation revealed that the two victims at Community East Hospital were a part of the same incident that took place on Sherman Drive.

Aggravated Assault detectives responded to the scene and immediately began to interview several witnesses. The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency responded to assist in identifying and collecting potential forensic evidence.

During the course of the investigation, detectives identified Dejuan Brown as the alleged shooter in the incident. Detectives learned that Brown had been involved in an earlier disturbance inside the bar and was removed by security. He allegedly later returned with a firearm and upon entering the bar he began firing, injuring five people.

After probable cause was established and with the assistance of the IMPD Violent Crimes Unit, Brown was located and arrested. He was preliminarily charged with two counts of aggravated battery and three counts of felony battery. Brown was later transported to Marion County lockup for processing. The Marion County Prosecutors Office will review the case and make a charging decision.

There were five victims total from this incident: Three males and two females with age ranges from 35 to 57 years old. Two victims have since been released from the hospital and all victims are expected to survive due to the extraordinary efforts of initial responding officers, medics, and hospital staff. The IMPD would also like to recognize the efforts of our partners at IndyGo, who dispatched a bus to assist in keeping witnesses out of the frigid temperatures while detectives conducted interviews.

In a chaotic scene where lives were on the line, IMPD officers utilized trauma kits provided by community partners and their knowledge obtained through first aid training to save lives while protecting the integrity of a crime scene. The victims and witnesses then provided invaluable information that assisted detectives in quickly identifying a suspect, who was also quickly located. This incident should serve as a message to those seeking to commit violence in Indianapolis, that they will be held accountable. The IMPD ended 2018 with a homicide clearance rate of 64%, more than 20% higher than the previous year. Violence will not be tolerated by IMPD or the Indianapolis community.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317.262.8477 or (TIPS).  Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to www.CrimeTips.org to submit a web tip. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000 if the information leads to a felony arrest.  Only tips submitted directly and anonymously to Crime Stoppers are eligible for these cash rewards.

A charge of a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.