Indianapolis murder suspect apprehended thanks to community tip
Apr 16, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A community tip led to the capture of a 39-year-old man that was wanted in connection to a Sunday murder in Indianapolis, police said Thursday night.
Earlier Thursday, the U.S. Marshals Service and Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana each offered a reward for information
as they searched for Javon Cushenberry.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a media notification that Cushenberry was taken into custody outside a business in the 6500 block of West Washington Street, and a firearm was later found in his waistband.
“We owe it to our community and our dedicated officers for this safe and quick apprehension – THANK YOU!” said the notification from IMPD.
The early Sunday morning shooting killed Rachel Rakes, 33, and critically injured a man who was with her at a home on Westbrook Avenue near West Washington Street.
There, they found the man with gunshot wounds on the front porch of a house. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Officers entered the home and located Rakes, who had been shot at least once. She was taken to a hospital, but did not survive.
Investigators believe the shooting was targeted, but they did not say how Cushenberry knew either the man or Rakes.
A reward is being offered to anyone who provides information leading to Cushnberry’s arrest.
Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Detective Steven Gray at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or e-mail the detective at [email protected].
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