Indianapolis, Indiana — May 3, 2025 — With tear-stained faces and broken hearts, the community of Indianapolis gathers in mourning today, reflecting on the tragic loss of Angela M., a woman whose life ended far too soon in a heartbreaking domestic violence incident that unfolded just west of the city’s heart. Angela’s death—at only 33 years old—has stunned her family, shattered her circle of friends, and reverberated across neighborhoods all too familiar with the silent epidemic of intimate partner violence.
On that fateful Saturday afternoon at approximately 1:15 p.m., emergency dispatchers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) began receiving multiple frantic calls reporting an active shooting near the intersection of Chadbourne Drive and West St. Clair Street, located just off North Girls School Road. What began as another call in a day full of emergencies would turn out to be a life-ending moment for a woman known to neighbors as soft-spoken, deeply kind, and quietly courageous.
While the case remains under official investigation, police sources and eyewitnesses have described the scene as the tragic culmination of a domestic violence incident that escalated into a fatal confrontation.
Authorities say the first 911 call came in at 1:13 p.m., with the caller—believed to be a neighbor—reporting the sound of screaming followed by gunfire. As dispatchers stayed on the line, they reportedly heard the chilling continuation of a domestic altercation that turned deadly.
Within minutes, IMPD officers arrived at the scene and discovered Angela M., unarmed and critically injured from gunshot wounds sustained just outside a residential unit. Medics attempted life-saving procedures on-site before transporting her, but she was later pronounced deceased.
A suspect was reportedly taken into custody without further incident. While police have not yet released his name pending charges, early indications suggest that he and Angela had a personal relationship and a history of conflict.
Detectives from IMPD’s Homicide Division are currently conducting a full investigation, working alongside domestic violence specialists to understand the scope and context of the relationship.
To her family, Angela M. was not a headline. She was not just “the victim.” She was a person—a daughter, a sister, a cousin, and a friend. She was a listener. She was laughter at family dinners. She was the first to send a birthday card, and the last to hold a grudge.
Angela worked as a medical assistant, a job she held with quiet pride. Patients remembered her for her warm eyes and her ability to put people at ease, even when they were at their most vulnerable. Coworkers described her as “the person who made it feel like a team.” In a statement, her clinic director wrote:
“Angela was deeply empathetic and dedicated. She brought light into every room she entered. Her loss is more than professional—it’s personal for everyone who knew her.”
Angela loved gardening, and her apartment balcony overflowed with blooming succulents and basil. She was known to cook big Sunday meals with her mother and send containers to friends and neighbors.
“She wasn’t loud, but she was present,” her sister said. “She showed up when it counted.”
Although the investigation is ongoing, early accounts from those close to Angela suggest that the fatal shooting was not a one-time outburst, but the end point of a long and painful pattern of intimate partner abuse.
Friends report that Angela had been distancing herself socially in recent months, a red flag often seen in domestic violence cases. One close friend, who asked to remain anonymous, said:
“She would say things like, ‘I don’t want to cause trouble,’ or ‘It’s not that bad.’ But she stopped showing up to gatherings. She wasn’t herself.”
The suspect, believed to be a former boyfriend or partner, had allegedly exhibited controlling behavior, verbal abuse, and suspected stalking. However, as is tragically common, Angela may not have filed formal reports—out of fear, confusion, or the quiet shame that so often surrounds victims.
Advocates say Angela’s case underscores the need to destigmatize speaking up and to increase resources for people trying to safely exit abusive relationships.
Angela’s family is now left to grapple with unthinkable grief. Her mother, Donna M., spoke briefly outside the family’s home, holding Angela’s high school graduation photo:
“My baby girl… she didn’t deserve this. She deserved to grow old. She deserved safety. She had dreams.”
A vigil was held the following evening at Chadbourne Park, just steps from where she lost her life. Hundreds of community members attended, holding candles and listening as friends, family, and advocates shared stories of Angela’s life and called for change.
“I want us to stop treating these cases like statistics,” said one speaker, a domestic violence survivor. “She was not a number. She was everything to someone.”
Angela’s death is not an isolated incident. In Indiana alone, over 40% of women have experienced domestic violence, and intimate partner homicide remains one of the leading causes of death among women ages 18–45.
Nationally, a woman is killed by a current or former partner every 6 hours.
Advocacy groups are calling for increased funding for shelters, legal aid, mental health support, and early intervention programs. In a press release, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) wrote:
“We mourn Angela, and we stand with every victim whose voice was silenced. Our work is far from over. No one should live in fear in their own home.”
As of this writing, the alleged shooter remains in police custody. IMPD has confirmed that charges will be forthcoming, including potential homicide and weapons violations. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to comment until formal charges are filed.
Angela’s loved ones are asking for privacy as they make funeral arrangements and support one another through this devastating time.
Angela M. was not just a victim. She was a person of depth, passion, and resilience. Her name deserves to be said with reverence, not as a fleeting news story, but as a full and honored human life. Her death will not be in vain if it sparks the action, empathy, and change that keeps others safe.
In her honor, her family is launching the Angela M. Foundation, which will provide microgrants and advocacy for women trying to escape abusive relationships. A GoFundMe campaign, launched to assist with funeral costs and seed funding for the foundation, has already raised more than $27,000 in just three days.
Angela M. should be here today—tending to her plants, sharing a meal with her mother, laughing with her friends. Instead, we are left with memories, with mourning, and with the solemn duty to ensure that her story propels us forward.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org for confidential help 24/7.
Angela, we say your name. We honor your life. We will not forget.
