Indianapolis: The Most Violent Year on Record

It isn't just the largest cities that are falling apart. Indianapolis crime: Police struggle to clear cases with homicide rate

The city in October surpassed the previous record of 159 criminal homicides set in 2018, making 2020 the most violent year on record. The criminal homicide number does not include killings made in self-defense, shootings by police ruled justified or accidental homicides. As of Saturday, Indianapolis has recorded a total of 232 homicides.

The story focuses on one case in particular, that highlights the fact that people are not cooperating with police to solve crimes. In other words, "Nobody saw nothing."

Jodie Haggard said police told her they were initially optimistic about finding the shooter given the number of people at the party in the 2400 block of North Sheridan Avenue. But it has been five months, and no arrests have been made. 

"We’ve been told that just no one is talking," Haggard told IndyStar. 

Still given all of that Indianapolis PD has a fairly good clearance rate, of 46%. That is down slightly from previous years, but it is better than many places. Chicago, in 2018, had clearance rate of 15%.

And there are reasons for not cooperating with cops.

John Grice, founder of the Father's Foundation, an Indianapolis non-profit focused on helping young men move away from violence, said fear of retaliation is a big reason witnesses don't want to talk to police.

Because you are on your own. And people know that, even if The System would like it if you didn't.