A tragic incident unfolded at a Waffle House in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Monday, February 19, 2024, when a shooting left one dead and five others injured.
Officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to a call at South Lynhurst Drive on the city’s southwest side around 12:30 a.m.
Upon reaching the scene, police found five individuals with gunshot injuries. The incident escalated from a dispute between two groups, initially starting within the restaurant and eventually moving outside, as per police reports.
35-year-old Crystal Kennebrew, a resident of Gary, Indiana, was shot during the conflict and later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital.
In total, six people sustained gunshot wounds during this incident. Police were told that one of the victims, a male, arrived later at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital on his own and was listed in critical condition. The remaining four victims, consisting of three men and one woman, were in stable condition.
Investigators discovered one handgun at the Waffle House and another in a car at Methodist Hospital during their initial investigation. They are working to secure surveillance footage from the location and have called for potential witnesses to step forward.
Though preliminary findings suggest the shooting was the result of a dispute between two groups, it is not yet clear whether any of the injured were involved in the shooting.
Kennebrew was a well-known figure in her community, serving as a bartender and part-owner of a local pub in Gary, Indiana. Her trip to Indianapolis coincided with a club party in conjunction with the NBA All-Star game events. Jaleesa Joseph, a lifelong friend of Kennebrew, told reporters, “I can’t comprehend what happened, but we’ve lost Crystal. She was the one who brought people together. Now, it’s her memory that’s doing that.”
Joseph further reflected on Kennebrew’s impact on the community, “Following this tragedy, numerous family members have noted she was the most memorable bartender in Gary because she never forgot what they drank.”
Indianapolis recently attracted a large number of tourists as it hosted the NBA’s All-Star weekend, which concluded on the previous Sunday evening.
The investigation into the shooting incident is still ongoing. Authorities have yet to release the identities of the other victims or provide any updates on the apprehension of the suspects.
