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Friday, March 29, 2024

Community shaken

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BY BRANDON A. PERRY

During a quiet afternoon a family walks up to the door of a house near the intersection of 46th Street and Shady Lane.

Wiping away tears, a couple and their two young sons place stuffed animals at a makeshift memorial at the door then solemnly walk away. Nearby Kierra Anderson paces on the sidewalk, trying to come to terms with a senseless crime that took place at the house last Sunday.

Her brother, 16-year old Rodney Anderson, was fatally stabbed during a domestic dispute that also killed his aunt, Flossie Wright, 60, and his foster brother, Deonte Norton, 10.

ā€œMy brother was a real cool person,ā€ Anderson said, smiling as she thought about how silly Rodney could be. ā€œHe loved to dance and he was always laughing and playing about something. He had his bad days where he got in trouble, but he was fun to hang around.ā€

At press time police said they still have no clear motive explaining why 35-year-old Sean Wright, Flossie Wrightā€™s son, allegedly stabbed his mother and Anderson and Norton, who were in her foster care, around 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Anderson was found on a neighborā€™s porch, where he collapsed after going across the street to get help. Wright and Norton were found dead inside the house, which had overturned furniture and other signs of a violent struggle.

Sean Wright fled the scene but was soon taken into custody. He is currently isolated in a unit and undergoing psychiatric evaluation at the Marion County Jail.

The slaying of Flossie Wright by her own son is just one of a series of violent crimes among families that has shocked the community.

Last week Charles A. Long, 69, was arrested after allegedly fatally shooting his son, 40-year-old Charles L. Long, following an argument at his home near West 38th Street and Boulevard Place.

The community is also experiencing violent incidents involving relatives who were not fighting amongst themselves but trying to protect their loved ones.

On Sept. 11 Ramirez Smith Jr., 15, was reportedly shot while defending his sister during a dispute she had with a group of teenage girls. Smithā€™s mother, Shawn Smith, who was seven months pregnant, was wounded in the attack near their Westside home.

Classmates at Northwest High School, where Smith was a star football player, are still having a hard time with his death.

ā€œThey are shocked, they canā€™t believe it has happened,ā€ said Northwest principal Lawrence Yarrell. ā€œWeā€™ve had counselors out to assist them with their grief.ā€

Lorraine Blackman, a social worker at IUPUI who has worked with families affected by homicides, believes violence, in the family and otherwise, has increased since the 1980s due to the distribution of crack cocaine.

ā€œA low tolerance for frustration in this generation is also another factor, as different generations cope with lifeā€™s frustrations differently,ā€ said Blackman. ā€œAlso, when people feel devalued they donā€™t value the lives of others. When they feel disrespected, they donā€™t respect others.ā€

Blackman noted that societyā€™s values have changed somewhat over time.

ā€œNo matter how frustrated our ancestors would get under the stress of slavery and Jim Crow their value for life kept them from killing each other,ā€ she said. ā€œPeople have become accustomed to seeing reports on homicides in our community and have become numb to them. But this is not common and it is a relatively recent development in our history.ā€

Yarrell and Blackman agree that the use of conflict resolution measures and counseling can prevent families from experiencing internal violence.

ā€œIt is important for people to sit down with someone they are at odds with and learn how to live peacefully with that person,ā€ said Blackman. ā€œFar too often people wait until itā€™s too late ā€“ until someone gets hurt ā€“ before getting help.ā€

Blackman recommends that families in serous disagreements contact organizations such as the Indiana Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition, which offers conflict seminars.

Sgt. Paul Thompson of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said a good rule of thumb in a dispute with anyone is to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible before it escalates into violence.

ā€œWe all know that in any discussion cool heads prevail,ā€ he said. ā€œBut if you see the conflict is getting heated just walk away. If necessary, leave the home or location and call police.ā€

In the meantime, the neighborhood where Flossie Wright brought joy to so many lives is still recovering from the shock of her death.

ā€œShe was fun, she always came out and made sure everyone was OK and made sure everyone was happy. She was like a mother,ā€ said Chelsey Cody, a teenager who played basketball and rode bikes with Wrightā€™s foster children.

ā€œShe was such a friendly person, she would do anything she could for you,ā€ said her next-door neighbor, Robert Malone. ā€œShe loved her sons and worked hard helping others and keeping this neighborhood nice. I told her the city should be paying her for making this a better place.ā€

Malone said he would occasionally speak to Sean Wright while the two were working on their yards.

ā€œHe liked to be by himself a lot, but he seemed normal and cordial,ā€ Malone stated. ā€œI just hate what happened.ā€

Family members have told police that Wright has a history of psychological problems.

For Kierra Anderson, coping with her brotherā€™s loss is being taken one day at a time.

ā€œI already miss him so much,ā€ she said. ā€œI canā€™t believe heā€™s gone.ā€

For more information about the Indiana Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition, call (317) 927-9558.

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