Police said the gunfire broke out early Sunday at a short-term rental home on North Park Avenue.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — One person was killed and three others were injured early Sunday after gunfire broke out during a post-prom party at a short-term rental home on Indianapolis’ near north side, police said.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said officers were called to the 4000 block of North Park Avenue in the early morning hours of May 3 after a report of a person shot. Investigators said the gathering appeared to be a post-prom house party with a large number of people, including teenagers. No arrest had been announced Sunday, and police had not released the name of the person who died.
Officers arrived at the rental home and found at least one person wounded by gunfire. That victim was taken for medical care and later died. Police said two other people who had been shot went to Methodist Hospital on their own. A fourth person was hurt while trying to get out of the home during the chaos. Investigators said they believe all of the injuries were tied to the same scene. Police had not said by Sunday afternoon what started the shooting or whether one or more shooters opened fire.
IMPD said detectives were still sorting through witness statements, physical evidence and possible video from the area. The shooting happened on a residential block near North College Avenue, in a part of the city where homes, rentals and businesses sit near one another. Officers said the party had drawn a large crowd before shots were fired. The Marion County Coroner’s Office is expected to identify the person who died after relatives are notified and to determine the official cause and manner of death.
The case also brought new attention to short-term rentals in Indianapolis, where residents and police have raised concerns for years about large parties held in houses rented for brief stays. City officials began moving in 2024 toward a registry and permit system for short-term rental properties. Indianapolis City-County Councilor Kristin Jones said at the time that residents wanted a clearer way to track rentals and reach owners when problems occur. “It’s simply a registry and a permitting process,” Jones said during that earlier debate.
Neighborhood leaders have said problem rentals can draw crowds, loud music, blocked streets and, in some cases, violence. Dakota Pawlicki, a Fountain Square neighborhood leader involved in the Coalition to Address Short Term Rentals, said earlier that party houses can overwhelm a block when a home meant for a small group suddenly draws dozens of people. Indianapolis police also have said nuisance and abatement detectives have watched for promoted rental parties, especially events advertised online without a clear address until shortly before they begin.
Authorities had not said whether the North Park Avenue property was properly registered, who rented it or whether the party violated any rental rules. Police also had not released the ages of the victims or said which schools, if any, were connected to the prom events that preceded the gathering. The case remained a homicide investigation Sunday. Detectives were expected to keep reviewing surveillance video, speaking with people who attended the party and searching for evidence that could identify a suspect.
The shooting added to a violent overnight stretch in Indianapolis, where police responded to multiple separate shootings from late Saturday into early Sunday. The North Park Avenue scene stood out because of the age of the crowd and the timing after prom celebrations. For families and neighbors, the party’s end came in minutes, as people fled the home and wounded victims were taken or drove themselves to hospitals. Police had not said whether any weapon was recovered from the scene.
The investigation remained active Sunday, with the victim’s name and the suspect information still unreleased. The next milestone is expected from the Marion County Coroner’s Office and IMPD as detectives confirm the victim’s identity and continue the homicide case.
Author note: Last updated May 3, 2026.