An Indiana teenager has been found guilty of murdering six members of his family and attempting to murder his younger brother, who survived the horrific incident. Raymond Ronald Lee Childs III, who was 17 at the time of the crime, was tried as an adult. His first trial ended in a mistrial after a witness questioned him about his motives. However, in the second trial, the jury in Marion County convicted him on six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of carrying a handgun without a license, according to court records. His sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2025.
The attempted murder charge pertains to Childs III’s younger brother, the only survivor of the January 24, 2021, massacre. Despite sustaining gunshot wounds to his leg and arm, the teenager managed to escape, leading investigators to the crime scene on Adams Street. At the scene, authorities discovered the bodies of six victims: Kezzie Childs, 42, Raymond Childs, 42, Elijah Childs, 18, Rita Childs, 13, Kiara Hawkins, 19, and Kiara’s unborn son, whom authorities referred to as “Baby Boy Hawkins.”
According to law enforcement, the deadly shooting occurred during a dispute over whether Childs III could spend the night at his girlfriend’s house. Childs III’s girlfriend told investigators that the defendant’s father had called him to return home. He complied, but later returned to his girlfriend’s place with two bags of clothes, claiming his father had kicked him out. When his girlfriend received a notification about a shooting on Adams Street, where his family resided, Childs III feigned ignorance.
The surviving brother provided a chilling account of the events that unfolded at their home. He recalled that their father had asked him to fill a bottle with water, which led him to the bathroom. The details of what transpired next remain undisclosed, but the aftermath left a family decimated and a community in shock.
The case has drawn national attention due to its brutal nature and the young age of the perpetrator. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus now shifts to the sentencing phase, where Childs III faces the possibility of life in prison.