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INDIANAPOLIS - The fiancé of a woman killed in a hit-and-run crash feels let down by the justice system after the driver responsible was sentenced to just one year of house arrest and two years of probation.

Alexandra Leal, 30, was killed in September along Lynhurst Drive on the southwest side of Indianapolis. Since her death, Leal's family and loved ones have maintained a roadside memorial near where she was struck. Over time, it grows with the memories she never got to make - birthdays and holidays that aren't much of a celebration anymore with one fewer seat at the table.

"This is what we have of her," Leal's fiancé, Shane Bernard, said while clutching a small vial of ashes he wears on a chain. "My kids all got one. This is her."

Bernard, who was set to marry Leal this year, also wears her engagement ring around his neck-a painful reminder of the future they lost.

Bernard fears justice will never be served after hearing the suspect's sentence of just one year on house arrest and two years of probation.

"That's a slap on the wrist," he said. "She took somebody's life. I've got two kids without a mom."

Court records show the driver, Lateresa Hadrick, turned herself in nearly three weeks after the crime. Hadrick told investigators she only realized she had hit a person after seeing news reports. Despite the reports she saw, Hadrick did not contact police for several days.

"She had to hear me because people 15 houses down heard me screaming and yelling," Bernard said. "I looked back and just saw the lights, it happened so fast. All I could do was yell, 'Move Alexandra.'"

Bernard said that, even though Hadrick pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death and obstruction of justice, the punishment doesn't match the crime.

"Maybe if she would've stopped, I could see that," Bernard said. "But she definitely drove with intentions to get away and not turn herself in, and fixed the car. She was definitely trying to cover it up."

According to court documents, if Hadrick abides by the conditions of her sentence, she won't have to spend another day in jail.

Bernard said Hadrick's sentence sends a dangerous message in a city that saw nearly double the number of hit-and-run crash deaths in 2024 compared to the year before.

"Don't pull a gun out, just drive a car, and you'll go do some house arrest," Bernard said. "Basically, it's a murder. You want to go kill somebody, you just drive your car and you're going to get a slap on the wrist."

FOX59/CBS4 reached out to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office for comment regarding Hadrick's plea agreement. As of this article's publication, the MCPO had not responded to FOX59/CBS4's requests.


via: https://fox59.com/news/fiance-of-indianapolis-hit-and-run-victim-speaks-out-after-driver-is-sentenced-to-house-arrest

INDIANAPOLIS - Tobacco products are set to be more heavily taxed in Indiana as lawmakers scramble to reel in a projected $2.4 billion shortfall in the state's budget.

With state spending set to exceed incoming revenue by billions of dollars, Republican lawmakers have reconsidered a solution previously pushed by Democrats: a long-overdue increase to Indiana's cigarette tax.

On Wednesday, Governor Mike Braun and several Republican legislative leaders introduced the finalized version of the state's 2025 budget. The budget included the first tax hike on cigarettes in nearly 20 years.

Hoosier smokers can expect to pay $2 per pack in taxes on cigarettes. This is roughly double the current rate. All tobacco products will see an increased tax in Indiana, not just cigarettes. Users of vapes, e-cigarettes and chewing tobacco won't be spared from shelling out roughly double the rate in taxes.

Republican leaders previously shied away from the Democrats' suggestion of increasing tobacco taxes in Indiana but came back to the table after staring down a $2.4 billion shortfall.

"Along with the revenue comes a pretty good public policy that is going to help persuade people either to not start smoking or stop smoking at the same time," said State Sen. Rodric Bray, (R) Senate President Pro Tem. "So I think everybody expects that number to decrease over time, but that's because we'll have fewer smokers."

But the estimated $400 million in revenue from the tobacco tax increase is only a start to bridging the $2.4 billion gap.

The finalized budget includes a bevvy of cuts, with government offices and agencies being forced to tighten their belts. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation was one of the departments singled out by Braun and company for heavy cuts.

Republican leaders said the finalized budget cuts capital by one percent, cuts general government spending by one percent and cuts higher education by one percent.

"When times get a little tough, it's when the best and the leanest are prepared to take more market share," said State Rep. Todd Huston, (R) House Speaker. "For us, market share is population and economic growth. Between SB1 and this budget, that's what we'll continue to lean into."

But not everything is facing the chopping block. Republican leaders said the Department of Child Services, Family & Social Services Administration, and the Indiana Department of Correction will be fully funded.

As for education funding, $954 dollars are allocated to education. However, $93 million of that sum will go towards expanding school choice vouchers to make them universal.

The Republican leaders also said the massive shortfall will not change their plans to decrease the individual income tax rate.

While the budget must be finalized by April 29, Republican lawmakers hope to push through the finalized budget Thursday night. While many Indiana Democrats were happy with the inclusion of the cigarette tax, some expressed apprehension about throwing support behind this latest budget iteration.

"The most troublesome part is only giving $40 million to local public health initiatives, even though we're going to 'Make Indiana Healthy Again," said State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis).


via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/2-cigarette-tax-added-into-state-budget

INDIANAPOLIS -- Four juveniles have been arrested for their alleged roles in an armed carjacking on Indy's west side Tuesday night.

According to a public police report filed by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers were called around 7:27 p.m. to the 3700 block of Hyannis Port Drive after receiving reports that an armed carjacking occurred in the area.

The report documents that four juveniles are now facing multiple felony counts following the incident. One of the suspects, identified in the police report as a 13-year-old male, is facing five felony counts. These include:

MARION, Ind.  - A 17-year-old is dead, an 18-year-old is in jail and a community is mourning following a deadly shooting this week in Marion.

Since he was a boy, 17-year-old Julio Matamoros practiced the fundamentals of baseball and loved the game.



Just last week, a series of pictures were taken by DCM Photography Studio of the victim, known as Lio, enjoying his time on the diamond.



"He's always the played the game in a way you could tell he loved it and he's certainly going to be missed," said Trevor Blake.

Blake met Lio coaching youth baseball. He remembers Lio's big smile and outgoing nature.

"When I met him, he just grew on me and I think he affected everybody that way," said Blake.  "He had a personality that would draw you to him."



Marion police were called to a parking lot around 6:50 p.m. on Monday in the 1500 block of S. Western Avenue and found the teenager with a gunshot wound to the chest.

According to police, the deadly shooting took place after the suspect arranged to meet the victim to buy some vape cartridges.

That sale quickly turned violent and left a community devastated after the young victim died on Tuesday.

FISHERS, Ind. - The Fishers Police Department is working to find a missing 20-year-old woman, the department announced on Wednesday.

Payton Jordan is described as 5'5" and 130 lbs, with a tattoo on her left forearm, according to FPD. She was last seen Tuesday morning, Fishers Police said.

Photo by FPD

FPD noted that Jordan has autism and that her family is "very concerned for their daughter."

If found, citizens are encouraged to check Jordan's welfare and contact FPD immediately. Their non-emergency line can be reached at (317) 773-1282. Alternatively, those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).


via: https://fox59.com/news/fishers-police-searching-for-missing-woman

INDIANAPOLIS -- U.S. Marshals in Tennessee arrested a man wanted in Indianapolis for allegedly violating the terms of his sentencing for his role in a shooting that critically injured a man and woman last year.

The U.S. Marshals Service Memphis confirmed that James Wingo, 21, was arrested on April 21 after being found in the 700 block of Front Street in downtown Memphis. Wingo's arrest resulted from a collaboration with the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force in Indiana.

Wingo was wanted for allegedly violating the terms of his sentence. According to online court records, Wingo pleaded guilty to Aggravated Battery (Level 5 Felony) on Feb. 21, 2025, and was sentenced to seven years in Community Corrections with four of those years suspended. Under the terms of the plea deal, three of those years are to be served on home detention and two years on probation.

In exchange, the state dismissed two counts of Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon (Level 5 Felony).

Booking photo of James Wingo (Shelby County Jail)

According to previous reports, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called on April 17, 2024, around 11:43 p.m. to the 300 block of N. Grant Avenue on Indy's east side in response to a reported shooting in the area.

(U.S. Marshals Service Memphis)

Officers arrived on the scene and found a woman and a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Court documents indicate the woman was shot in her ribcage, left arm and right foot. The male victim was suffering from gunshot wounds to his abdomen and leg.

Both victims were transported to Eskenazi Hospital, where they received treatment for their critical injuries.

According to court documents, detectives interviewed the victims at Eskenazi Hospital two days later. The woman reportedly told police that she and the man were asleep when a female referred to as "Juicy" allegedly let Wingo and a man identified as Diallo Puckett into the home.

The woman suspected "Juicy" still had a house key to the residence since previously lived there. The female victim stated that Wingo and Puckett allegedly told them to empty their pockets before shooting both of them.

The male victim reportedly told detectives that he remembered waking up on the night of the incident to Wingo and Puckett standing before him wearing black ski masks and repeatedly asking, "Where's the money? Where's it at?"

Both victims told police that they could not think of any specific reason why they were targeted in the shooting.

Online court records indicate a warrant for Wingo's arrest was issued on March 26. Wingo is set to appear in Marion Superior Court 27 on April 24 at 9 a.m.

Puckett was also charged with Aggravated Battery (Level 3 Felony), Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Serious Violent Felon (Level 4 Felony), and two counts of Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon (Level 5 Felony).

Puckett pleaded guilty to Aggravated Battery (Level 3 Felony) on Feb. 11, 2025. In exchange, the state dismissed all other charges that pending against him. He was sentenced to 12 years in the Indiana Department of Correction with three years suspended.


via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/indy-fugitive-arrested-in-memphis-for-violating-sentence-terms-on-aggravated-battery-charges

INDIANAPOLIS - A band making a tour stop in Indianapolis claims they had their equipment stolen after a show at Black Circle Brewing on Sunday.

According to a Facebook post, "heavy music" band Cancer Bats said all their gear and merch were stolen while they slept.

"It's a major bummer," the post reads. "...We've recovered the van but [the] trailer and all our equipment and merchandise are gone."

According to a police report, the band's U-Haul trailer is valued at $10,000, their equipment is valued at $30,000, merchandise is valued at $12,000 and a stolen catalytic converter was valued at $1,500. In total, that's $53,500 worth of stolen property.

Cancer Bats said this resulted in them cancelling their St. Louis show that would have taken place on Monday.

Following this, the band posted multiple pictures of their equipment so that citizens around the Indianapolis area can keep an eye out for them.

Those with information are encouraged to reach out to Cancer Bats via their Instagram, X or Facebook pages.


via: https://fox59.com/news/touring-band-has-equipment-stolen-after-show-in-indy

INDIANAPOLIS -- One person is in critical condition after a crash on the southwest side of Indianapolis.



According to officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the crash occurred between two vehicles at around 1:08 p.m. on Wednesday. The crash occurred in the area of Kentucky Avenue and Camby Village Road.

MADISON COUNTY, Ind. - A collision at a county intersection left one person in critical condition early Wednesday.

The Madison County Sheriff's Department said the crash occurred around 6:20 a.m. at 200 West and 700 North, roughly halfway between Anderson and Alexandria. Two vehicles were involved in the crash: a 2024 Toyota Corolla and a 2000 Chevy S-10 pickup.

According to investigators, the eastbound traveling Toyota failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with the S-10 pickup. The driver of the Toyota - a 61-year-old from Frankton - ended up being airlifted to a hospital in critical but stable condition.

The pickup truck driver was treated at a hospital and has already been released, according to the sheriff's department.

Drugs and/or alcohol are not suspected as playing a role in the crash.


via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/1-critically-injured-after-car-crash-in-madison-county

INDIANAPOLIS - The air quality in the Greater Indianapolis area is reportedly getting worse.

The 2025 "State of the Air" report shared that Hoosiers are being exposed to more unhealthy ozone smog and particle pollution.

According to the American Lung Association, the Central Indiana area ranks as the 21st worst for particle pollution out of 223 urban areas. Further, it ranks the 21st worst out of 223 urban areas for ground-level ozone pollution.



"Unfortunately, too many Hoosiers in Greater Indianapolis are living with unhealthy levels of ozone and particle pollution. This air pollution is a threat to human health at every stage of life - from increasing the risk of premature birth and low birth weight babies to causing or worsening lung disease," said Tiffany Nichols, Advocacy Director for the American Lung Association.