Charges filed against suspect in relation to December Castleton Square Mall shooting
Jan 08, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS -- Officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department announced on Wednesday that they have "re-arrested" 18-year-old Aaron McClure and arrested a 17-year-old for their alleged roles in the December 2024 shooting at the Castleton Square Mall.
This comes after IMPD initially arrested McClure on Dec. 24, 2024, in relation to the shooting. According to previous reports, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office had announced on Dec. 30, 2024, that they did not intend to file charges against McClure at that time in relation to the shooting.
According to an update from IMPD, officials said that detectives located additional evidence, including the identification of the reported victim in this case, that linked McClure to the mall shooting. McClure was located on Tuesday in Avon and detained, along with the 17-year-old.
The 17-year-old was not identified by the department, but officials said that the teen was arrested for dangerous possession of a firearm.
MCPO confirmed in an update Wednesday night that McClure has been preliminarily charged with intimidation with a deadly weapon, which is a level 5 felony. The prosecutor's office said they could now pursue criminal charges after additional evidence came to light.
“This could not have been done without members of our community coming forward and participating in the investigation. We are grateful for their cooperation," Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said.
According to court documents obtained by FOX59/CBS4, investigators reviewed security footage from the mall which appeared to show McClure and an “unknown accomplice” chasing another unidentified individual while displaying their firearms.
As McClure approached the center of the crowded mall, his right hand allegedly moved toward his handgun as he chased the fleeing suspect. McClure then briefly left the view of the camera before emerging a short time later and running toward the mall’s exit. Court documents said investigators noticed that he began moving with a limp around that same time.
McClure was located by police around 1:38 a.m. on Dec. 24 while he was pumping gas into a 2011 blue Chevrolet Malibu. A search warrant for the vehicle was approved and officers allegedly found a black handgun holster in the passenger seat, a THC cartridge, sandwich baggies, black elastic ties, $750 in cash and two cell phones.
McClure was subsequently arrested and transported to the Marion County Jail.
‘This cannot continue to happen’: Shots fired inside Castleton Square Mall, 1 injured
Multiple shots were fired at the main entrance of the Castleton Square Mall on Dec. 23, 2024. IMPD officials said at the time that some type of dispute occurred between two groups before shots were fired. While initially no injuries were reported, McClure was later found to have been shot during the incident.
Officers responded to Eskenazi Hospital in response to a walk-in person shot report. Court documents said officers arrived and spoke with McClure as he was receiving medical treatment for a gunshot wound to his left lower leg.
He told the officers that he had sustained the injury at the Castleton Mall, with court documents revealing new details about the dispute that led to the altercation.
During an interview with police, McClure reportedly recalled seeing a man that he claimed had previously pointed a firearm at him inside a Walmart in Avon. He went on to state that he saw this male walking inside the mall and "wanted to fight with him," according to court documents.
During their investigation, detectives conducted an interview with a male who was involved in the incident at the mall.
Court documents said the male visited the mall with two other people on Dec. 23. While inside the mall, the male told detectives he noticed two people, who the MCPO and court documents identified as McClure and an unidentified accomplice, looking at him "in a way that made him uncomfortable."
After seeing them multiple times, the male said his group of friends continued visiting stores. While they were inside a clothing store, the male said McClure allegedly approached the storefront window and tapped on the glass to get their attention.
The male told detectives he recognized McClure from a confrontation at an Avon Walmart earlier in the year. One of the males was equipped with a handgun displaying a red machinegun conversion device.
The male being interviewed by police said he asked why were they confronting him in the mall, saying they "got cameras everywhere."
The male claimed one of the other males responded, "I don't give a f*** about none of that."
It was at this time the male told police he heard a clicking sound, court documents said. The male told detectives he believed he was being threatened after his brother was killed a few years before.
The male said he began running and was “praying, panicking, and running, scared andshook." Court documents show he reached the hallway of the mall and tried to cross over to the other side. It was at this time that he "ran into something" and fell down while hearing loud noises behind him.
The male stated he fired three shots at the male who was chasing after him, court documents said.
He eventually found his way outside of the mall and entered his car.
Detectives proceeded to carry out a search warrant on Jan. 7 at McClure's residence in the 9700 block of Jackson Way in Indianapolis that concluded with McClure and the 17-year-old being detained.
While searching the residence, court documents said a detective found a hoodie that reportedly matched the clothing that McClure was wearing at the Castleton Mall on the night of the incident.
According to online court records, McClure is set to appear in Marion Superior Court 30 on Jan. 10 for an initial hearing at 8:30 a.m.