The smile on Mayor Greg Ballard’s face is a sign of his relief that the 17-year-old suspect in the Indiana Black Expo shooting that injured nine people was arrested.
Unfortunately, even though suspected gang member Shamus Patton is being detained at a local jail after a 42-hour manhunt, his was not the only shooting of the weekend. Together, there were three separate shootings amidst the crowds of young people walking the streets of Indianapolis during the closing weekend of the Indiana Black Expo. Ten people altogether, including one as young as 10-years-old, suffered gunshot wounds. Two of the shootings appear to be related and part of gang retaliation, the Associated Press reports.
The shootings greatly impact Indianapolis’ self-branded image as an All-American, Midwestern, multicultural metropolis. Local citizenry and officials continue to recoil with shock, horror and disgust at the wave of violence that swept over the largest annual black expo in the nation. They wonder what the future holds for the event, with some already suggesting setting up metal detectors, decreasing the number of events and increasing police presence.
Nationally, Indianapolis will suffer at least short-term collateral damage as its image is being battered with widespread reports of the violence on websites such as CNN.com, the Huffington Post and Fox New York. More fear the long-term residual effect this past weekend will have on visitors, convention planners and even the NFL as the city of Indianapolis prepares to host the Super Bowl in 2012.
Some local leaders remain confident and optimistic about Indy keeping the Super Bowl. “We have not heard from the NFL,” said Mel Raines of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. “I think they have the utmost confidence in us to have a great Super Bowl.”
Other leaders, however, know there will be some fallout from this past weekend. “Anytime there’s an incident its a cause for concern, especially when you’re in the business of promoting and branding the city,” said Chris Gahl of the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. “And that image which resonates with meeting planners and leisure visitors will continue even after this weekend’s events.”
The bigger question is: Was this weekend the equivalent of a surface wound or symptoms of a much deeper sickness in the city? –terry shropshire
