IMPD News | Indianapolis IN
Shooting
3600 BLOCK OF DONALD AVENUEINDIANAPOLIS
10/17/25 2:00 PM
IMPD homicide detectives, with assistance from the IMPD Violent Crimes Unit (VCU), SWAT, and other IMPD teams, arrested 23-year-old Deborah Benefiel for her alleged role in an October 17 shooting that left a 21-year-old male dead. On Friday, October 17, 2025, just before 2:00 p.m., officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were responding to the area of West 38th Street and Georgetown Road on a report of shots fired when a separate call came in advising a person was shot in the 3600 block of Donald Avenue. Officers arrived on Donald Avenue and located a victim in the driver’s seat of a car who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he was unfortunately pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. During their investigation, detectives determined that the victim was shot after he honked his horn and drove around a stopped car during a short traffic delay near the intersection of W. 38th Street and Georgetown Road. Benefiel, the driver of the stopped vehicle, responded by allegedly following the victim and firing at least one shot into his vehicle before she fled the scene. Detectives from assisting units worked alongside analysts with IMPD’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) and utilized automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology to help identify the suspect vehicle. With this information and through witness cooperation, detectives identified Benefiel as the suspected shooter within only a few hours of the initial incident. Detectives requested and were granted search warrants for Benefiel’s residence and vehicle. With assistance from IMPD SWAT, VCU, and the East and Southeast District’s Violence Reduction Teams (VRT) and Violent Crimes Task Forces (VCTF), Benefiel was taken into custody in the 1100 block of East Washington Street just a few hours after the shooting occurred. A firearm was also recovered inside her residence. After consulting with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO), detectives arrested Benefiel for Murder. “The senseless death of this victim is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly anger and violence can destroy lives and families,” said Chief Chris Bailey. “I am proud of the dedicated work of our officers, analysts, and detectives who jumped into action, using technology and strong investigative work to identify and arrest the individual responsible. Their hard work sends a clear message. Violence like this has no place in our city,” he added. The MCPO ultimately makes the final charging decision. An arrest is merely an accusation, and Benefiel should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Case Number: IP250091182
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