12-year-old dead after being hit by vehicle on near west side

INDIANAPOLIS — A 12-year-old boy died after reportedly being hit by a vehicle Friday morning on the near west side of Indianapolis.

According to the Marion County Coroner’s Office, 12-year-old Monterious Crowe was reportedly struck by a vehicle in the 500 block of North Elder Avenue around 9 a.m. on Friday.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department stated that officers responded to the area at 9:18 a.m. Officials said that they were dispatched to a person down and classified the incident as a fatal hit-and-run.

The victim’s aunt, Zakiya Cole-Morris, said the family is seeking justice as investigators work to identify the person responsible.

“Come and face whatever you did. We will get justice. I don’t care how long it is going to take but I will be down here marching until we get justice for my 12-year-old nephew,” said Cole-Morris. “If this is you, you need to have some heart and you need to come and face what you’ve done.”

The child, who had three younger siblings, was set to celebrate his 13th birthday next week.

“He did not deserve this. He did not deserve to not have a life. He was only 12 years old,” said Cole-Morris. “He didn’t even get a chance to live half of his life but for you, whoever you are, to run him over and leave his body for dead in an alley, you have to answer to God.”

The child’s family confirmed that the child left home around 6 a.m. on Friday and never came back. He was later found dead in the alley near the 500 block of North Elder Avenue a few hours later.

The incident was originally treated as a death investigation by IMPD but has since been ruled as a fatal hit-and-run.

“We have a mother who lost her child, a father who lost a child, he had siblings, and they are all grieving today. That reiterates the importance of the community’s assistance in helping us to solve this case,” said IMPD lt. Shane Foley. “It’s a tragedy but we are hopeful that someone in the community will come forward with information that will lead to the identity of the individual who was driving the vehicle in this case.”

According to a news release on Monday from IMPD, detectives from the department’s crash investigations division are continuing the investigation. If anyone has information regarding the incident, they are asked to call the office at (317) 327-6549.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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