Man shot while apparently mowing lawn on Eastside

A man was shot Monday evening while he was apparently mowing a lawn on the city's Eastside, a woman who witnessed the incident told The Indianapolis Star.

Indianapolis Metro officers arrived at 18th Street and North Rural on a report of shots fired shortly after 7 p.m. and found a man, later identified as 51-year-old Steven Watkins, suffering from at least one gunshot wound, police said.

At the scene, a woman said she saw Watkins hit by gunfire while he was mowing the lawn. The shooting, she said, stemmed from a possible robbery, but police were not immediately able to confirm that information.

"The investigation is on-going at this time and a motive has not been established," said IMPD spokesman Officer Rafael Diaz.

Across the street, a man sitting on his porch said he didn't hear the gunshots, but his wife did. He told her it was probably just a car backfiring, or firecrackers, but when she went to the window and saw police cars she started screaming.

Diaz said a possible suspect vehicle used during the shooting was located in the 2600 block of East 17th Street, about two blocks from the scene of the incident. The vehicle will be processed for evidence.

Watkins was transported to Eskenazi Hospital in stable condition, Diaz said.

Call Star reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter:@MichaelAdams317.