Teen charged with murder for killing six in Indianapolis

Raymond Childs III, 17, (pictured) was charged with murder on Thursday morning, according to court records. He is accused of shooting dead six people at his family's home in Indianapolis on Sunday morning

Raymond Childs III, 17, (pictured) was charged with murder on Thursday morning, according to court records. He is accused of shooting dead six people at his family’s home in Indianapolis on Sunday morning

A teen suspect accused of killing five people and an unborn baby in a shooting at his family’s home in Indianapolis has been charged with murder. 

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against Raymond Childs III, 17, on Thursday morning, according to court records. 

He is facing six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of carrying a handgun without a license. 

Childs III allegedly went on a shooting spree early Sunday morning – killing his mother Kezzie Childs, 42, father Raymond Childs Jr, 42, 18-year-old brother Elijah and 13-year-old sister Rita. Elijah’s girlfriend Kiara Hawkins, 19, was also killed, along with her unborn baby boy. 

He was identified as the gunman by his younger brother Xavier Childs, who suffered gunshot wounds as he fled from the home, police said. Xavier, 15, remains hospitalized but is expected to recover. 

Police previously withheld the suspect’s name due to his age. It was released after the charges were filed in adult court due to the severity of the alleged crimes.   

Elijah Childs, 18, (left) and Raymond Childs, 42, (right) were among the six victims shot dead at their Indianapolis home on Sunday. The 17-year-old suspect in the shooting is believed to be Raymond's son and Elijah's brother

Elijah Childs, 18, (left) and Raymond Childs, 42, (right) were among the six victims shot dead at their Indianapolis home on Sunday. The 17-year-old suspect in the shooting is believed to be Raymond’s son and Elijah’s brother

Kezzie Childs, 42, (left) and her 13-year-old daughter Rita (right) were also shot and killed

Kezzie Childs, 42, (left) and her 13-year-old daughter Rita (right) were also shot and killed

Kiara Hawkins, 19, (pictured) was also killed, along with her unborn baby

Kiara Hawkins, 19, (pictured) was also killed, along with her unborn baby 

The gunman was identified by his younger brother Xavier Childs, who suffered gunshot wounds as he fled from the home, according to relatives and a police report. Xavier, 15, (pictured) remains hospitalized but is expected to recover

The gunman was identified by his younger brother Xavier Childs, who suffered gunshot wounds as he fled from the home, according to relatives and a police report. Xavier, 15, (pictured) remains hospitalized but is expected to recover

The shooting unfolded at around 4am Sunday at the Childs' home on Adams Street. Police are pictured at the scene hours later

The shooting unfolded at around 4am Sunday at the Childs’ home on Adams Street. Police are pictured at the scene hours later 

Childs III fled from the home after the killings and was arrested on Monday about 25 miles away in Plainfield at a relative’s home.  

He was being held at Marion County Juvenile Detention Center prior to charges being filed. It’s unclear whether he’s been transferred to an adult jail. 

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears (pictured) announced the charges at a press conference on Thursday morning

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears (pictured) announced the charges at a press conference on Thursday morning

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the charges at a press conference on Thursday morning, noting that Childs III faces a maximum sentence of life without parole if convicted.

Mears said Childs III carried out the shooting with two different firearms – first using a 9MM handgun and then switching to a ‘draco gun’ after the handgun ran out of bullets. 

The handgun was recovered from the home and the draco gun was found after Childs III was arrested, Mears said. He said both guns appeared to have been owned by the family, but did not say whether they were legally obtained.   

The probable cause affidavit for Childs III’s arrest featured four photos of the draco gun allegedly used in the shooting. Another photo showed an AK-style magazine that was found wrapped in clothes in a car belonging to Childs III’s girlfriend, identified only as ‘J.D.’

The probable cause affidavit for Childs III's arrest featured four photos of the draco gun allegedly used in the shooting

The probable cause affidavit for Childs III’s arrest featured four photos of the draco gun allegedly used in the shooting

Another photo showed an AK-style magazine that was found wrapped in clothes in a car belonging to Childs III's girlfriend, identified only as 'J.D.'

Another photo showed an AK-style magazine that was found wrapped in clothes in a car belonging to Childs III’s girlfriend, identified only as ‘J.D.’

Neighbors had called 911 to report the shooting at about 4am Sunday after Xavier fled from the house on Adams Street and collapsed on their porch, according to the probable cause affidavit. 

When he got to the hospital, Xavier told officers that his 17-year-old brother was the gunman, saying: ‘They killed my entire family.’   

Describing the moments leading up to the shooting, Xavier reportedly told detectives that his older sibling had been scolded by his father for leaving the house without permission.

The father, Raymond Jr, warned his older son that he would be punished later, Xavier said, before chaos erupted. 

The younger brother said he was downstairs with his parents when they heard gunfire upstairs. His sister shrieked: ‘He shot Elijah,’ and more shots rang out. 

He said his brother then ‘came downstairs with a draco gun, a handgun that shoots rifle rounds, and started shooting’, the police report states. 

Xavier ran out of the house as his sibling followed behind him and opened fire multiple times.  

When Childs III caught up to him, Xavier said he told him: ‘I can give you forty dollars, please don’t kill me.’

‘He just looked at me and then he shot me on the leg. I fell. He shot me in my arm. And then he tried to shoot me in my head but missed, I guess,’ Xavier told detectives. 

Kezzie, Raymond Jr, Elijah and Rita were all declared dead at the scene. 

Hawkins, who had been in bed with Elijah, was transported to a local hospital, where she died along with her unborn baby despite life-saving measures, police said. 

The family were found shot dead in their home in the 3500 block of Adam Street, Indianapolis

The family were found shot dead in their home in the 3500 block of Adam Street, Indianapolis

The Childs’ home on Adams Street is shown above in an undated Google street view  image

Loved ones are seen consoling each other outside the Childs family home on Sunday

Loved ones are seen consoling each other outside the Childs family home on Sunday 

Loved ones set up two GoFundMe campaigns – one for the Childs family and one for Hawkins – which together have raised more than $23,000 for funeral costs.     

Hawkins’ mother, Rhonique Hawkins, shared her heartbreak with DailyMail.com on Tuesday, revealing that the teen was just days away from her due date when she was killed.  

‘She was my first. Everything she taught me made me the woman and mom I am today,’ Rhonique said. ‘I love and miss her dearly.’    

A local pastor reacted to the tragedy on Tuesday, revealing his fears that violent lyrics in the suspect’s music may have inspired the killing spree. 

Videos posted on YouTube allegedly showed the suspect, who used the name ‘Lil Raymond’ rapping about guns and shooting people, Pastor Kenneth Sullivan Jr told WTHR. 

‘It’s really gut-wrenching, it really hurts,’ said Sullivan, whose relationship to the Childs family is unclear. 

He said its possible that the ‘aspiring artist’ was ‘acting out’ things that he rapped about when he carried out the shooting. 

‘If you’re constantly feeding your mind negative things and destructive things, it won’t be long before act upon those things,’ Sullivan said. 

WTHR reported that investigators are working to determine whether the guns seen in the music video matched the one used in Sunday’s shooting.    

The music video above shows a teen identified as the shooting suspect rapping about guns and killing people

The music video above shows a teen identified as the shooting suspect rapping about guns and killing people

WTHR reported that investigators are working to determine whether the guns seen in the music video matched the one used in Sunday's shooting

WTHR reported that investigators are working to determine whether the guns seen in the music video matched the one used in Sunday’s shooting

Announcing the suspect’s arrest on Monday, IMPD Chief Randal Taylor said: ‘Yesterday, we promised swift justice for this heinous act. Today, we delivered on that promised. 

‘While removing the alleged perpetrator of yesterday’s mass murder from our neighborhoods does not bring back the lives senselessly lost, hopefully, it will bring us one step closer to healing as a community. 

‘I am grateful to all of the IMPD officers and criminal justice partners who have worked tirelessly for the last 30 plus hours to bring justice for these victims, their friends and families, and our entire community.’ 

source: dailymail.co.uk