Indianapolis man convicted in 2021 shooting deaths of five people, including pregnant woman

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis man was found guilty of murder Friday in the shooting deaths of five people, including family members and a pregnant woman who was about to give birth, prosecutors said.

A jury deliberated about three hours before finding Raymond Childs III guilty of six counts of murder, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office said. Childs was also convicted of attempted murder and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a firearm without a license.

His conviction after a five-day trial came months after judge declared a mistrial in his first trial after a witness verbally confronted Childs in front of the jury.

Childs, 21, was arrested a day after the Shooting in January 2021 Inside an Indianapolis home. The attack killed Childs’ father, Raymond Childs Jr., 42; his stepmother, Kezzie Childs, 42; the couple’s daughter, Rita Childs, 13; his son Elijah Childs, 18; and Elijah’s girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins, 19, who died in a hospital along with her unborn child.

The murders followed an argument over Childs, who was 17 at the time, staying out late, according to court records. Prosecutors said Childs methodically went from room to room, shooting the victims.

Childs’ 15-year-old brother was also shot, but survived after fleeing the house to escape the gunfire.

Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement Friday that “what happened inside that home is as unfathomable today as it was in 2021.” He said the verdict provided “justice for the victims of this horrible crime.”

“It has been an incredibly difficult journey for the families and friends of the six people we tragically lost,” Mears said. “I am proud of our trial team, law enforcement and witnesses, whose dedication to our victims did not waver in the face of adversity.”

The boy’s sentencing was set for January 7. He faces 40 to 65 years in prison for each murder charge, 20 to 40 years for the attempted murder charge and one to six years for the firearm charge.

A phone message left Friday with Childs’ attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned.