WISH-TV: Indiana lawmaker calls for state intervention to prevent Indianapolis shootings

An Indiana lawmaker believes the state may need to get involved to prevent another mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis.

Following Fourth of July celebrations, two teenagers were killed and five others were injured in a mass shooting around the Indianapolis Artsgarden early Saturday morning. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Chris Bailey said there were hundreds of minors, many armed, roaming the streets unsupervised in the period leading up to the gunshots.

“I think we’ve given the city every opportunity to get the job done right,” State Rep. Andrew Ireland (R-Marion County) told News 8 in an interview.

Ireland is calling for accountability from county prosecutors and judges to convict offenders.

“If you’re not willing to do your job, then we need somebody else to step up,” Ireland said.

Ireland co-authored HEA 1006, now signed into law, establishing a prosecutor review board to investigate complaints against prosecutors and withhold money from “noncompliant” prosecutors failing to enforce criminal laws.

Ireland told News 8 HEA 1006 is a “small step” toward a series of criminal justice reforms he’s advocated for, including granting the governor power to fire prosecutors, breaking up the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office into nine individual office serving the county’s townships, and allowing voters to recall Marion County Superior Court judges.

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