Indianapolis IND. Jan 9 2008
A chaotic scene preceded a New Year’s Day shooting in which about a dozen bullets hit five people, killing one of them, outside a Far-Eastside bar, court documents say.
The shooting about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 1 led to allegations of homicide against former Indianapolis police officer Shannon McComas and accused triggerman Sunungura Rusununguko. Several witnesses told police that Rusununguko fired a .40-caliber handgun into a crowd of about 20 people who were being ejected from a New Year’s Eve celebration at Durty Nelly’s Eatery & Pub, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Marion County prosecutor’s office.
Ronnie Croom, 30, Indianapolis, a security officer working for the event promoter, died after being hit in both legs and the head. Four other Indianapolis men were injured.
McComas, a six-year officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department who resigned Monday, gave the silver-and-black semi-automatic to Rusununguko, police said. The club’s surveillance video shows McComas holding the weapon, police said. IMPD refused to release the video to the public, stating it is evidence vital to the investigation.
The Police Department placed McComas on administrative duty in November while internal affairs investigated his ties to Durty Nelly’s, which is owned by his father-in-law, David Couch, and managed by his wife, Rachel McComas. Police officers are not allowed to hold a liquor license or work inside businesses that sell alcohol.
Rusununguko was arrested Friday on an initial charge of murder. McComas was arrested Sunday on initial charges of murder and assisting a criminal. They remained in the Marion County Jail on Tuesday. Prosecutors will file official charges later this week against the pair. Both men appeared in court Tuesday for brief hearings, in which prosecutors were granted 72 hours to file charges.
Rusununguko’s lawyer, David Hennessy, said he thinks several people were shooting guns outside the pub that night.
“I expect to establish that at least three different guns were being fired based upon the sound alone,” Hennessy said. “I urge the public not to share the mistaken and tragic rush to judgment the police have. Even they have not fully investigated the case.”
The probable cause affidavit released Tuesday did not mention the possibility of another shooter.
The New Year’s celebration at Durty Nelly’s, 2805 N. Franklin Road, turned ugly when a fight broke out inside the bar about three hours after the champagne toasts at midnight, according to the affidavit.
Croom and other security officers working for event promoter Norman Broaden intervened, but the hostilities continued. Rusununguko, known by the nickname Go-Go, was the only security guard employed by the club working that night. Witnesses said he wore a bulletproof vest and carried a stun gun, which he used unsuccessfully to disperse the rowdy crowd.
Club-goers argued with the guards as they were being escorted into the lobby and out of the building. The guards pushed about 20 patrons outside while the crowd pushed back.
Brian L. Porter, a security guard for the promoter, told Detective Edward J. Brickley Jr. that Rusununguko began firing.
Elzier Stewart, 30, was shot twice in the left leg and three times in the right leg. Cornell Steele, 22, was shot in the upper right leg. Damon Miller, 24, was shot in the left foot. Terry Lisenby, 24, was shot in the left ankle.
Croom suffered a bullet wound to each thigh and a third shot to the right temple, prosecutors say.
Shortly after the shooting, Broaden, the event promoter, confronted Rusununguko outside the bar and urged him to tell police what happened, according to the affidavit. Broaden told police their conversation:
“I’m not going to tell on you, but you better tell on yourself,” Broaden said.
“I’m not telling the police anything,” Rusununguko responded.
“That guy might die. What are you going to do then?” Broaden asked.
“If he dies,” Rusununguko said, “I’ll ask God for forgiveness.”
The shooting about 3:30 a.m. Jan. 1 led to allegations of homicide against former Indianapolis police officer Shannon McComas and accused triggerman Sunungura Rusununguko. Several witnesses told police that Rusununguko fired a .40-caliber handgun into a crowd of about 20 people who were being ejected from a New Year’s Eve celebration at Durty Nelly’s Eatery & Pub, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Marion County prosecutor’s office.
Ronnie Croom, 30, Indianapolis, a security officer working for the event promoter, died after being hit in both legs and the head. Four other Indianapolis men were injured.
McComas, a six-year officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department who resigned Monday, gave the silver-and-black semi-automatic to Rusununguko, police said. The club’s surveillance video shows McComas holding the weapon, police said. IMPD refused to release the video to the public, stating it is evidence vital to the investigation.
The Police Department placed McComas on administrative duty in November while internal affairs investigated his ties to Durty Nelly’s, which is owned by his father-in-law, David Couch, and managed by his wife, Rachel McComas. Police officers are not allowed to hold a liquor license or work inside businesses that sell alcohol.
Rusununguko was arrested Friday on an initial charge of murder. McComas was arrested Sunday on initial charges of murder and assisting a criminal. They remained in the Marion County Jail on Tuesday. Prosecutors will file official charges later this week against the pair. Both men appeared in court Tuesday for brief hearings, in which prosecutors were granted 72 hours to file charges.
Rusununguko’s lawyer, David Hennessy, said he thinks several people were shooting guns outside the pub that night.
“I expect to establish that at least three different guns were being fired based upon the sound alone,” Hennessy said. “I urge the public not to share the mistaken and tragic rush to judgment the police have. Even they have not fully investigated the case.”
The probable cause affidavit released Tuesday did not mention the possibility of another shooter.
The New Year’s celebration at Durty Nelly’s, 2805 N. Franklin Road, turned ugly when a fight broke out inside the bar about three hours after the champagne toasts at midnight, according to the affidavit.
Croom and other security officers working for event promoter Norman Broaden intervened, but the hostilities continued. Rusununguko, known by the nickname Go-Go, was the only security guard employed by the club working that night. Witnesses said he wore a bulletproof vest and carried a stun gun, which he used unsuccessfully to disperse the rowdy crowd.
Club-goers argued with the guards as they were being escorted into the lobby and out of the building. The guards pushed about 20 patrons outside while the crowd pushed back.
Brian L. Porter, a security guard for the promoter, told Detective Edward J. Brickley Jr. that Rusununguko began firing.
Elzier Stewart, 30, was shot twice in the left leg and three times in the right leg. Cornell Steele, 22, was shot in the upper right leg. Damon Miller, 24, was shot in the left foot. Terry Lisenby, 24, was shot in the left ankle.
Croom suffered a bullet wound to each thigh and a third shot to the right temple, prosecutors say.
Shortly after the shooting, Broaden, the event promoter, confronted Rusununguko outside the bar and urged him to tell police what happened, according to the affidavit. Broaden told police their conversation:
“I’m not going to tell on you, but you better tell on yourself,” Broaden said.
“I’m not telling the police anything,” Rusununguko responded.
“That guy might die. What are you going to do then?” Broaden asked.
“If he dies,” Rusununguko said, “I’ll ask God for forgiveness.”
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