INDIANAPOLIS — A double shooting on the northeast side of Indianapolis left a 3-year-old boy and 22-year-old man dead Monday night.
Just after 9 p.m. Aug. 26, an off-duty Lawrence police officer found a man and a child shot in a car outside of a strip mall near 75th Street and Shadeland Avenue, and the officer worked with medics to provide aid.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The 3-year-old was taken to Riley Hospital for Children in critical condition, but was unfortunately pronounced dead Tuesday morning.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the boy as Armonie Booker and the man as Jaishawn Darell Johnson.
"We were just talking about his birthday coming up and that he was going to be a big boy now," said Tiah Gaithings, who cut Booker's hair for about a year and a half. "He just has so much personality."
Gaithings said when Booker was sitting in her chair, he'd say hi to anybody who walked by.
"As soon as I seen it on social media, I just threw my phone because I was angry, because how could you kill a 3-year-old?" Gaithings said. "He's interesting. He's so full of life. He's just so well-behaved. Well-mannered. He's just so, he's character. He just has so much personality. Like, that's what drew me into him."
And while Booker won't be sitting back in her chair, his smile will live in her memory.
"His face. His little face. He was just so cute. He was so adorable. I mean, I just take all of that. His little conversations because he would definitely speak to me — what he liked, what he didn't like. He was very vocal," Gaithings said. "That's what I would take away from him, is just his face. I'm going to definitely miss his face."
Brandon Randall, a mentor for Johnson, said he spent the last few years working to turn his life around. Randall said Johnson recently got his GED and was looking to start a career.
"He was a victim to violence, and he deserves to be remembered for his positive contributions to this world," Randall said.
Randall told 13News Johnson was one of those students who always looked out for everyone.
"I worked with young people for 18 years. Sometimes, you just meet a student that makes an impression on you. Jaishawn was one of those young people," Randall said.
Randall said it's time for people to step up, so this kind of violence is stopped.
"Until everybody is on the same page of being vocal, present and intentional to support young people, a lot of these situations are going to keep happening," Randall said.
The North Shadeland Alliance will be holding a prayer vigil for Booker and Johnson at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 at the shopping center at 75th Street and Shadeland Avenue.
"It's certainly frustrating," IMPD Sgt. William Young said. "I should not have to be here speaking with you about a child shot — let alone anyone shot for that matter. The community should be frustrated."
IMPD said officers are searching through surveillance footage to find out what took place, but police are still asking for the public's help to learn more on the incident. The department is asking anyone with information to contact the investigating detective at 317-327-3475.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by contacting Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.