INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man who was accused of killing five of his family members and an unborn child was convicted on Friday.
After a five-day trial, a jury determined Raymond Childs III was guilty as charged. Childs III will be sentenced for six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of carrying a handgun without a license on Jan. 7 at 9 a.m.
Childs III has been on trial twice now. The first time the case was tried, the court declared a mistrial.
Childs III is accused of killing 42-year-old Kezzie Childs, 42-year-old Raymond Childs, 18-year-old Elijah Childs, 13-year-old Rita Childs, 19-year-old Kiara Hawkins and Hawkins’ unborn child.
Previous reporting indicates Kezzie and Raymond Childs were Childs III’s parents. Elijah and Rita Childs were his siblings. Hawkins was Elijah’s girlfriend.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department became aware of the shooting on Jan. 24, 2021, when they were dispatched to a residence in the 3300 block of East 36th Street on a report of a person shot.
When police arrived at the scene, they met a person who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds but survived the shooting. The victim advised he had been shot by his brother, Raymond Childs III.
The victim then directed police to a residence in the 3500 block of North Adams Street. When police entered that residence, they found the bodies of five people.
Upon further investigation, police learned Childs III had gotten into a dispute with his family for coming home past curfew. The argument led Childs III, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, to open fire on his family.
Police located Childs III’s vehicle and his girlfriend’s house, and they found Childs III at a family member’s residence.
Additional members of Childs III’s family turned the gun he used during the shooting over to police.
“What occurred inside that home is as unfathomable today as it was in 2021,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a press release. “It has been an incredibly difficult journey for the family and friends of the six people that we tragically lost. I am proud of our trial team, law enforcement, and witnesses, whose dedication to our victims didn’t waiver when faced with adversity. Their commitment ultimately led to today’s verdict and justice for the victims of this horrific crime.”
