Man Found Guilty of Fatally Shooting 4 Family Members and Pregnant Teenager During Argument About Staying Out Late

Mar. 15, 2025

Raymond Childs III.Photo:Metropolitan Police Dept.

Metropolitan Police Dept.

A 21-year-old man has been found guilty of six counts of murder after five people, including a pregnant teenager, were shot dead in Indianapolis.

Five people were shot dead in the attack: Kezzie Childs, 42, Raymond Childs, 42, Elijah Childs, 18, Rita Childs, 13, and Kiara Hawkins, 19. Hawkins' unborn child also died as a result of the shooting.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office previously said in aJan. 28, 2021 postthat a seventh victim, a juvenile, had also been “shot and severely injured” in the incident. The Associated Press has since said Childs' 15-year-old brother was injured, but managed to flee the home.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office release on Friday confirmed Childs “was convicted of six counts of Murder, Attempted Murder (Level 1 Felony), and Carrying a Handgun without a License (Class A Misdemeanor),” stating, “A jury returned the guilty-as-charged verdict after a five-day jury trial.”

Kezzie Childs.Kezzie Childs/Facebook

Kezzie Childs/Facebook

The release confirmed the surviving victim had told Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers after the shooting “that Childs had gotten in trouble for coming home past his curfew and got into an argument with his parents before opening fire on the family.”

After IMPD officers were first dispatched to the 3300 block of East 36th Street residence following reports of a person shot on Jan. 24, 2021, the surviving victim identified the shooter as his brother, Raymond Childs III, per Marion County Prosecutor’s Office’s latest release. He then directed officers to his sibling’s home in the 3500 block of North Adams Street, where the other bodies were found.

“Community cooperation led investigators to Childs’ vehicle which was located at his girlfriend’s residence. The girlfriend stated that she had picked Childs up on the night of the shooting and he told her that he had been kicked out of the house,” the release said.

“Childs’ extended family was able to obtain the murder weapon and turn it over to law enforcement. Additionally, Childs was apprehended at a family member’s residence following the shooting,” the release continued.

Raymond Childs III.Metropolitan Police Dept.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“It has been an incredibly difficult journey for the family and friends of the six people that we tragically lost,” Mears added. “I am proud of our trial team, law enforcement, and witnesses, whose dedication to our victims didn’t waiver when faced with adversity. Their commitment ultimately led to today’s verdict and justice for the victims of this horrific crime.”

Friday marked the second time the case had been tried before a jury, after the Court declared a mistrial in July.

Per a previousAPreport, the mistrial was declared “after a witness verbally confronted the defendant in front of the jury.”

A sentencing hearing has been set for Jan. 7, 2025 at 9 a.m. local time.

source: people.com