INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Metropolitan police expressed frustration Monday following a violent weekend involving teens. From a drive-by shooting that injured two teens to an armed carjacking that resulted in the arrest of five teens.

“It’s disappointing that we have our teens, our youth, with firearms. And we’re seeing that where younger teens are having firearms,” IMPD Officer Tommy Thompson said.

Overall, homicides and nonfatal shootings in Indianapolis are dropping. According to IMPD, the number of nonfatal shootings with juveniles as victims has dropped by over 30% in the last year.

January 1 – November 9 YTD Juvenile (Ages 0-17) Non-Fatal Shooting (NFS) Victim Totals

• 2026: 32
• 2025: 47
• 2024: 63
• 2023: 62
• 2022: 73

But Thompson says the numbers are telling another concerning story.

“The piece of the pie when it talks about all homicides and all nonfatal shootings, as that pie shrinks, the percentage of juveniles involved as victims and/or suspects in those crimes is continuing to grow,” Thompson said.

Thompson urged parents to hold their children accountable at home.

“Their phones are not their phones. They’re your phones. Their bedrooms are your bedrooms. Get nosey, get into their bedrooms and find out what they’ve got in there. Is it narcotics? Is it firearms? Be involved. Be nosey. You’re not their friend. You’re their parent,” he said.

Thompson said there are plenty of resources available for parents and guardians. All they need to do is reach out.

“There’s thousands of resources out there. We will work to try to get you to the right avenue, but you have to be able to drink from that water that we lead you to. We can’t do all the action for you. But we sure will be there, holding your hand along the way,” Thompson said.

“Help the youth so that they are our leaders of tomorrow, not locked up behind bars and a life forever changed.”