A quiet Indianapolis neighborhood was shaken early Sunday morning after a shooting claimed the life of a 33-year-old woman and left a man fighting for his life.
According to police, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded around 12:30 a.m. on April 12 to a reported shooting in the 800 block of Westbrook Avenue, near West Washington Street and Holt Road.
When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds on the front porch of a home. Inside, they discovered a woman who had also been shot. Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but the woman did not survive.
The Marion County Coroner’s Office later identified her as 33-year-old Rachael Lynn Rakes.
Friends describe Rakes as a loving mother of three who was deeply connected to her community. Those close to her say she was someone “known and loved by everybody,” and her sudden death has left many in shock and grief. Some believe the incident may be tied to domestic violence involving a person she was in a relationship with, though police have not confirmed a motive.
Investigators continue to search for answers and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
As the investigation unfolds, loved ones are left mourning not just a life lost, but a mother, friend, and neighbor whose absence will be deeply felt.
