At 7:28 p.m. Thursday, Indiana State Police Dispatchers received a 911 call about a person firing shots from inside a silver Ford Focus on I-465 eastbound near Mann Road. Dispatchers gathered as much descriptive information about the suspect’s vehicle as possible and relayed that information to responding troopers.
At 7:33 p.m. a trooper located the Ford Focus near East Street and Tulip Drive, with the assistance of other troopers and officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the vehicle was pulled over and the driver was detained. A subsequent investigation led to a request for a search warrant, which was granted by a judge. During the search of the vehicle troopers located a firearm, ammunition and empty shell casings. 21 year old Carlos Avelar of Indianapolis was arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail. It is unknown if any other vehicles in the area at the time of the shooting were damaged and there were no injuries reported.
Ramerez now faces the preliminary charges of Intimidation, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Criminal Recklessness.
Indiana State Police Sergeant Nate Raney said, “The troopers and dispatchers on this case did an outstanding job during this incident, their effective communication led to the successful conclusion of this complex investigation.”
This is the 22nd incident involving shots being fired on Indianapolis area interstates so far this year. Troopers in the Indianapolis District have also investigated 74 other incidents on area interstates where a gun was displayed or pointed without shots being fired.
The Indiana State Police is asking all motorists to report road rage immediately by calling 911, even if the caller is not involved. Information provided by uninvolved witnesses often play a crucial role in these investigations.