By RICK CALLAHAN Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A man suspected of killing three adults and a child and abducting his baby daughter had pulled out a gun and opened fire following a heated argument at an Indianapolis home, police said Monday.
The baby’s mother was also wounded in Saturday night’s shootings. The 6-month-old girl was later found unharmed.
Malik Halfacre, 25, was arrested Sunday evening inside the attic of a different home about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) from the shooting scene, Officer Genae Cook, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.
This March 14, 2021, booking photo shows Malik Halfacre, who is accused of killing three adults and a child and abducting his baby daughter. (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)
Halfacre was being held Monday on preliminary murder, attempted murder and other charges, according to the Marion County Jail’s online records. Police identified him Sunday as “the suspect” in the killings Saturday night of two men, a woman and a 7-year-old girl.
Deputy Chief Craig McCartt did not mention Halfacre by name during a Monday morning news conference but he said the suspect had gotten into an argument at the home before the shootings.
“There was an argument there that escalated to the point where he pulled out his weapon and started shooting everyone there in the home,” McCartt said.
He said the shooting suspect faces four preliminary counts of murder and one count each of attempted murder and robbery, but noted that the Marion County Prosecutor’s office had not yet filed formal charges.
The shooting victims were identified Monday by the Marion County Coroner’s office as Anthony Johnson, 35, and Dequan Moore, 23, Tomeeka Brown, 44, and 7-year-old Eve Moore.
McCartt said the suspect was the father of the 6-month-old girl who police said Halfacre had taken from the slaying scene.
The initial police investigation after officers responding to a report of a woman being shot around 8:15 p.m. Saturday found the baby’s mother near the home, McCartt said. The woman, who had been shot in the back, directed police to the home, telling them other victims were inside. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police Chief Randal Taylor said Monday that the shooting came shortly after another one in which a 7-year-old boy was abducted but later found unharmed. That shooting also involved domestic violence, he said, and left a woman dead.
“We are grateful that the missing children were located safe after being taken from the homes after heinous crimes,” Taylor said, stressing that public resources are available to help resolve domestic disputes before they turn violent.
“But we must speak up and request help before we get to this point.”
