Last weekend brought more horror and shame upon the city of Indianapolis with another mass shooting that claimed the lives of four people – one of them a seven-year-old girl.
Coroner Alfie Ballew identified the victims Monday as Anthony Johnson, 35; Dequan Moore, 23; Eve Moore, 7; and Tomeeka Brown, 44, all of whom died from gunshot wounds.
The loss of life is all the more heartwrenching by the knowledge that the suspect Malik Halfacre, 25, is a repeat offender whose rap sheet includes gun violence.
In 2017, Malik Halfacre shot 23-year-old Ernest Tucker five times on the near northwest side.
But Halfacre got himself a plea deal in a city that goes easy on violent criminals and has little interest in justice – unless, of course, it’s “social justice.”He pled guilty in May of 2017 to the following charge: pointing a firearm. That’s it.
Charges for aggravated battery and carrying a handgun without a license were dismissed. Halfacre was sentenced to 730 days in jail with a 240-day jail credit and 250 day-suspension.
Four people including a seven-year-old child lost their lives due to a revolving door of justice. It’s an issue that FOP President Rick Snyder has addressed in multiple public statements and appearances on the Hammer and Nigel Show.
“As law enforcement professionals, we firmly believe that we could see a 30% reduction in [Indianapolis’] homicide numbers just by ensuring accountability for prior bad acts – especially those involving violence,” Snyder said Monday. “Yet we have a system that continuously cycles criminals back into the neighborhoods with little or no intervention, low or no bond, even when there are repeat prior convictions.”
He continued: “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you have someone struggling with addiction issues, mental health issues, and issues of violence in general for which they are being convicted, letting them back out onto the streets with a slap on the wrist increases the likelihood that they will victimize others in the future.”
Of course, it’s also essential that the chief executive of the city in which an atrocity occurs be clear-headed himself, and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is most definitely not.
Anthony Johnson, Dequan Moore, Eve Moore, and Tomeeka Brown were not the only victims of gun violence last weekend in the city of Indianapolis. Three other individuals lost their lives in separate incidents, bringing the total to seven homicides.
Mayor Hogsett chose to respond to last weekend’s loss of life by issuing a written statement rather than face t0ugh questions at an open press conference.
“Over the last year, we’ve seen far too many tragedies occur when the proliferation of guns has collided with interpersonal conflict. These challenges are not just threats to our public safety, but the well-being of our community,” Hogsett said in his statement. “I remain committed to locking arms with the neighborhood and religious leaders to address these generational dilemmas.”
That’s right, Indy. It’s not Indy Mayor Joe Hogsett’s incompetence and lack of leadership that cost seven people their lives last weekend. It’s not the all-out and calculated assault on the reputation, safety, and legal protections for our courage and brave police officers. It’s not an impotent justice system that refuses to hold criminals accountable for their choices. It’s not a lack of values, the absence of fathers in the home, or even the suspects themselves who are to blame – it’s guns.
Joe Hogsett is the chief executive of our city. The buck stops with him. He is unworthy and undeserving of serving as the mayor of Indianapolis.
By the way, Mayor Hogsett did finally show his face on Monday, so he’s certainly not a coward. Yes, he’s afraid to face tough questions from the media, but he’s not ashamed to dance in public.
Again, the above video was captured Monday, March 15.
There is absolutely no excuse for the mayor of Indianapolis to publicly behave in this cavalier manner immediately following last weekend’s tragedy. This level of callous disrespect for the victims’ families and loved ones is simply unforgivable.
Seven of our fellow citizens lost their lives to gun violence last weekend. One of them was a seven-year-old little girl. We never met her, and yet, the unimaginable horror of her final moments on this earth hurts so deeply it brings tears to our eyes. We grieve for the families of the victims even if our mayor does not.
Shame on you, Joe Hogsett.
https://omny.fm/shows/hammer-and-nigel-show/rick-snyder-talks-weekend-violence-in-indy
