IMPD notes clues in Amanda Blackburn slaying

After days of near-silence on the slaying of a young pastor's wife, more than a dozen law enforcement authorities came together Friday to announce significant developments in the case, including news on a possible suspect.

"We know who killed her; at least we have a picture of him," said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department homicide Capt. Craig Converse, quickly adding: "We don't know the name."

Authorities obtained surveillance footage taken the same morning from the same Northwestside neighborhood where Amanda Blackburn was killed. She was found fatally wounded about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in her home in the 2800 block of Sunnyfield Court. The footage shows a male between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall and of slim-to-medium build, who was wearing light-colored pants and a two-toned hoodie. Police said he tried to conceal his face from neighbors.

Police also said the surveillance cameras from area home

"We are serious about this. We're coming to get you," Police Chief Rick Hite said in a City-County Building conference room that was filled with as many public safety officials as members of the media.

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The news conference came was conductedmore than 72 hours after Blackburn, 28, was fatally shot by someone police suspect was trying to burglarize her home, near 38th Street and West Kessler Boulevard North Drive. Blackburn, who was 12 weeks pregnant, lived in the home with her husband, Davey, a pastor with Resonate Church, and their toddler son. She died Thursday. Her organs were procured for donation.

Officials characterized the crime as a "random" act of opportunity. The suspect entered the Blackburn home after burglarizing another home two doors down, police said. Earlier this week, IMPD said officers had established no links between the two crimes at that time.

The new information presented Friday also established a more definitive timeline of the attack. Maj. Eric Hench, IMPD's assistant commander of investigations, said the first burglary happened around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Television sets and laptops were taken from the home.

At 6:11 a.m., Hench said, Davey Blackburn left his home to head to the gym. His wife was still at home, and the couple's toddler was in his crib.

"We believe that when Mr. Blackburn left to go work out," Hench said, "they saw an opportunity to burglarize another home."

Hench also said a neighbor reported hearing shots fired between 6:45 and 6:55 a.m. Davey Blackburn found his wife fatally wounded about 90 minutes later.

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Other details, however, remain unclear. Although Hench and other investigators used the word "they" multiple times during the news conference, authorities later refused to elaborate on how many other individuals they suspect were involved. Police also declined to say whether anything was stolen from the Blackburn home.

Authorities said there was "no forced entry" into the home but declined to clarify exactly what that meant.

Earlier this week, police said they were withholding some information about the case as a way to protect the investigation.

The newest details on the Blackburn case came nearly 50 minutes into an otherwise awkward and at times emotional press conference, where law enforcement officials from virtually every agency in the area stressed a need for cooperation between policing agencies and community members if the city hopes to stave off its growing homicide rate. Through Friday, 130 criminal homicides have occurred this year in Indianapolis, five fewer than were recorded all of last year. The 2014 homicide count was the highest in eight years.

"We're angry. We're upset. We're frustrated, and so is the community," Hite said. "Our investigators have not slept very much."

Hite and others decried what they called a "code of silence" in the city that discourages anyone with information of a crime from coming forward out of fear of being labeled a "snitch."

As they called for more help from the community, authorities also were at times unusually candid about their frustrations with the recent spate of violence, including the Blackburn homicide. At one point, Hench, seemingly losing his place in his notes, paused and said, "I apologize because I'm angry about the Amanda Blackburn homicide."

IMPD Capt. Mike Elder of the department's criminal tracking unit said the Blackburn case "threw us all for a loop."

"It was on nobody's radar," he said.

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Authorities said they were confident in their efforts to track down suspects in Blackburn's case and other killings. Before the news conference began, police surrounded the room with posters of some of the most significant cases cracked in the past year, including the Grundy Crew and the Block Burners. Eleven members of the Grundy Crew, an alleged drug-trafficking operation stationed in Indianapolis, were arrested on state charges last month. Earlier this summer, dozens of alleged members of the Block Burners crime ring were indicted on federal charges.

"I want to assure this community that in crimes like this, and in violent crime, this will get turned around," U.S. attorney Josh Minkler said.

Although federal agents do not appear to be directly involved with the Blackburn case, Minkler and others said they were ready to give assistance to local authorities if needed.

Throughout the more than hourlong news conference, however, one theme appeared to be clear: Police say they are determined to solve Blackburn's murder.

"To the individual who committed this crime, you are not as good as you think you are. You left evidence behind, and we will find it. We have found it," Hench said.

"We will not stop until we get you."

Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.