Update (06/17/2024): IMPD announced that 27-year-old Estinfil Filsmagre was arrested for his alleged role in Monday morning's stabbing incident. Filsmagre has been preliminarily charged with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of aggravated battery.
The Marion County Prosecutor's office will make final charging decisions in Filsmagre's case.
INDIANAPOLIS – At least nine people were injured in a stabbing incident at a strip mall on the northwest side of Indianapolis early Monday morning.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Northwest District officers responded around 3:40 a.m. to 7102 Woodland Dr. The address traces back to a strip mall and a restaurant/bar called Miami's Garden.
The initial call involved a disturbance at the address, although it was soon upgraded.
“Those officers, while they were en route, the call to our 911 dispatch center was upgraded to a person stabbed," said William Young, a public information officer for IMPD. "Those officers quickly arrived and discovered multiple people outside in a parking lot and it appeared some type of disturbance had occurred.”
IMPD initially said three people were injured. That number grew to seven during an update around 6:30 a.m. IMPD's 9:30 a.m. update said a total of nine people had injuries consistent with stab wounds or some other type of trauma.
Two people were treated at the scene and released, while three people were taken to area hospitals in critical condition. Two others went to the hospital in stable condition, Young said earlier Monday.
IMPD later learned two additional individuals were treated and released at the scene, bringing the total number of people injured to nine.
An injured individual, described by Young as a person of interest, was among those taken to a hospital. A second person of interest has also been detained, IMPD said.
Young said it appeared a disturbance between two groups erupted into violence in the parking lot. Some witnesses provided aid to injured victims until emergency help arrived, Young said.
The investigation is in its early stages. Aggravated assault detectives were called to the scene and were checking nearby businesses for surveillance footage. A significant police presence was expected to remain at the area for some time.
“At this time, we do not believe an immediate threat to this particular area, however there will be a high police presence throughout the morning as folks are on their way to work," Young said. "And so we’ll be canvassing the area as our northwest officers are doing now, trying to look for any camera footage, or surveillance footage that any of these businesses may have.”
IMPD hasn’t made any arrests in connection with the incident, Young said.
Investigators were interviewing witnesses who stayed behind but also believe others may have seen what happened. Police are asking anyone with information to call (317) 327-3475 or Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"This morning I woke up to news that was both troubling and disappointing. The sheer number of victims involved in this incident underscores the severity of this violence.
First and foremost, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the victims and their families. The impact of this senseless violence is far-reaching, affecting not only those who were injured but also their loved ones and our entire community.
I want to commend our officers for their quick and professional response. They responded to the scene to treat and assist those who had been injured, working to manage a complex and chaotic situation.
It is deeply concerning and unacceptable that a conflict escalated to this level of violence. There are so many other ways to resolve disputes—walking away, taking a moment to breathe, or leaving the establishment altogether. Instead, our community woke up to find nine people injured because someone chose to resolve their conflict with a weapon rather than words.
While incidents like this are certainly alarming, it does not erase the progress we have made and will continue to make to improve the safety and security of every neighborhood in our city."