Family and friends are grieving a KIPP Indy Legacy High School student who was shot and killed after school in the parking lot Friday, Nov. 3.
15-year-old Devin “Lil Devin” Gilbert was identified by his mother as the victim. She tells the Indianapolis Recorder that he was her oldest son, and he loved his family.
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“He wasn’t really a trouble kid. He was an amazing big brother to his five siblings,” said the distraught mom who also said she watched him get shot in front of her Friday.
IMPD officers responded to a call around 12:55 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at 2259 Ralston Avenue for a person shot.
Upon arrival, they found a victim, later identified as a student at KIPP Indy Legacy High School, suffering from a gunshot wound in the parking lot of the Edna Martin Christian Center Campus & KIPP Academy.
Devin “Lil Devin” Gilbert
He was originally reported to be in critical condition, but he was later confirmed to have died from his injuries.
“This is not news that I want to share, but it does reiterate the travesty that we have when these incidents take place. Additionally, the individual detained who we originally said was a person of interest, that is a teenage male and a suspect in this incident,” said Lt. Shane Foley with IMPD.
Officers arrested a 15-year-old male after the shooting. He was not a KIPP Legacy High School student.
Lt. Foley said there was a reported disturbance at the high school earlier that day. Police are investigating whether or not it was related to the shooting.
He said the incident appeared to be targeted.
KIPP Indy Public Schools responds:
KIPP Indy Public Schools released the following statement around 5p.m., on Nov. 3 on via Facebook:
“Early this afternoon, an incident involving gun violence occurred at 23rd and Ralston Avenue at the north end of the Leadership and Legacy Campus parking lot that involved one of our Legacy High students who was walking home.
After being rushed to the hospital to receive medical care, our student sadly passed away. We are in ongoing communication with the student’s family and will continue to offer support during this extremely difficult time. On Monday, we will have on-site supports available for students and staff as our school community processes this tragedy.
The suspect is not a KIPP Indy student and is currently in custody. IMPD responded immediately and will continue to complete their investigation. There is no ongoing threat to those nearby or to anyone living in the surrounding area. Our KIPP Indy campuses executed our secure campus protocol with excellence and ensured the security of our school buildings and community. The safety of our entire school community will always be our top priority.”
This shooting counts as the 20th time a minor has been killed in a homicide in Indianapolis this year. It marks a new record.
We will update this story as we get more information.
Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at (317) 762-7853 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
