PUBLIC SAFETY

2 shot near Walker Theater, IUPUI put on alert

Shari Rudavsky
Police respond to reports of at least one person shot near the Walker Theatre Saturday, May 30, 2015.

Two people were shot outside a private party at the Madame Walker Theatre Saturday night.

The incident may have started with a disturbance that occurred inside the under-21 party on the fourth floor of the theater, according to Lt. Richard Riddle, IMPD spokesman in an email.

According to Detective Gary Smith, the 16-to-21 party, which was advertised on social media and had a $10 admission fee, had reached its 350-person capacity. A line had started gathering outside, Smith said.

Police were in the area and heard the shots, but the suspects ran off and have not been apprehended, Smith said.

One of the victims was shot in the buttocks and is in stable condition, the other was shot in the head and is stabilized but in critical condition, Smith said. Both were transported to Eskenazi Hospital.

One witness, Deion James, 20, said he was waiting outside with friends when he heard a few shots.

He said he saw the guy next to him get hit in the head and collapse. He thought he was dead.

"It's sad. You can't even go out and have a good time," James said. "He wasn't even trash talking."

Call Star reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her on Twitter: @srudavsky.