Mother shoots intruder trying to break into apartment on Indy’s east side

A mother fatally shot an intruder who was trying to break into her apartment on the city’s east side Wednesday afternoon. The shooting occurred around 1:10 p.m. in the 2800 block of White Knight Boulevard near East 30th Street and Mitthoeffer Road. 

Police say the mother heard someone breaking into her apartment. That woman then came face to face with the armed suspect, identified as 19-year-old Michael Hawkins, before she opened fire. Investigators say Hawkins died inside the doorway of the apartment after being shot. Neighbors say while it’s sad the suspect got killed, they don’t blame the mother for using deadly force. “I hate to see that it happened, but that’s what happens when you go into people’s home trying to take their stuff,” said neighbor Julius Radcliff. “You have to defend yourself. We have laws for that,” said neighbor Janice Taylor.

Radcliff heard the gunshots and watched as one man ran away from the scene while a second person drove away. Police have not confirmed if those two are considered suspects in the case.

The shooting marks the second time in as many days an Indianapolis parent has been forced to shoot a home intruder. On Tuesday a father shot an 18-year-old suspect during a home invasion on the city’s northeast side. Neighbors say they hope criminals start to think twice before breaking into other people’s homes. “I hate that this is happening in our community like this. It’s sad. It’s sad,” said neighbor Taylor. “It is disheartening that we see burglaries resulting in death, but we live in Indiana and it’s legal for people to have guns to protect themselves,” said IMPD officer Aaron Hamer.

The mother and kids were not hurt and are said to be fully cooperating with police.

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