Detectives Decry False Leads In Teller Shooting

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Metro police are frustrated with several dead ends in their investigation into who shot a pregnant bank teller during a robbery on Indianapolis' northeast side Tuesday, resulting in the loss of her twins.

Chief Michael Spears and several detectives assigned to the case held a news conference Sunday afternoon to once again call for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

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Slideshow: Police Seek Shooter

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A gunman burst into the Huntington National Bank, 2030 N. Post Road, on Tuesday morning and opened fire, striking Katherin Shuffield, 30, of Franklin, in the lower abdomen. Shuffield's unborn twins died on Thursday and Friday. She remains at Methodist Hospital.

"To have those lives so horrifically taken has just enraged our police department," Spears said.

Detectives also expressed anger toward two men who they said provided false information, leading them to spend many man hours on leads that ultimately led nowhere.

Those men, Derek McFarland, 26, and Shed James Jr., 25, are expected to be charged with false informing.

Deputy Chief of Investigations William Benjamin said he and other detectives working the case had never been involved with a case in which two informants gave entirely erroneous information with no known motive.

Benjamin said that detectives had interviewed at least two dozen people and had executed eight search warrants in the days after the shooting.

Fifty or more tips have come in since the shooting, and detectives have followed up on each of them, Benjamin said.

Police said they are looking to question three men and a woman in connection with the case. They added that two additional people are under surveillance in their investigation.

Investigation Sours As Police Pour Through Leads

The investigation took several turns for the worse on Friday and Saturday, after four arrests earlier in the week made it appear as though police were closing in on the shooter.

Police thought they had found the getaway car, a gold Dodge Intrepid, only to later determine that it was not the vehicle used in the crime. Another gold Intrepid was also checked and found not to have been involved.

On Friday, several men were released when authorities determined that James had spun a false tale of their involvement.

"This case remains a top priority and we are working around the clock," Spears said Saturday. "I want everybody in the city of Indianapolis to know that our resolve is still strong."

Police asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.

Robbery Details

Police said the gunman entered the bank at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday while one customer and three employees were inside. Though no one resisted, the gunman went over the teller counter and shot Shuffield, police said.

After Shuffield was shot, witnesses told police, the robber grabbed cash from some drawers and fired a bullet at an empty chair before exiting the bank. A block to the west, at least one person saw him enter the passenger side of a gold, late-model Dodge Intrepid with dull, worn paint, police said.

The Intrepid sped away and a new, bright blue Honda Pilot SUV followed, the witness said, prompting police to wonder whether the SUV's occupants were linked to the robber. Information about how much money the robber took wasn't available.

Witnesses described the shooter as black, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 215 pounds. He was wearing a blue stocking cap, a dark face covering, a gray jacket, blue jeans and dark shoes with light-colored heels, witnesses told police. Police said he also wore sunglasses and teal surgical gloves and was carrying a 9 mm gun.

Though the gunman's face was covered, authorities developed a sketch of him based on witness descriptions and released it Tuesday night. Police also released pictures of two vehicles similar to the ones they're seeking in connection with the incident.

A benefit fund for Shuffield was established. Donations can be made to:

Katherin Shuffield Benefit Fund
c/o Huntington Bank, Attn: Main Office Branch
45 N. Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204