Police: Girl Witnessed Mother's Death At Hands Of Ex-Husband

INDIANAPOLIS -- Three people were killed in a domestic argument that sparked a police chase on the city's northwest side Tuesday morning.

Police said the incident began in an apartment at the Woods of Eagle Creek at 5100 Winterberry Drive. A 13-year-old girl told police she awoke to the sound of a loud bang, and went downstairs to find her mother -- April Wills, 30 -- being beaten by the woman's ex-husband -- Carl Wills, 44.

The girl told police her mother's boyfriend -- John L. Cunningham III, 30, -- was lying in the living room at the time. It was later determined that Cunningham had been shot and killed, likely by Carl Wills, police said.

The girl told police her mother was then dragged into a car by Carl Wills and he drove off.

"He was dragging her by the head and she was screaming for her life," neighbor Cameka Smith told 6News' Jack Rinehart. She was like, 'somebody help me, somebody help me.' And then he grabbed the gun and put it to her head and said, 'do you want to die right here?'"

Police said that at some point, the woman was able to escape and run back into the apartment, where the 13-year-old had already called police. Carl Wills then followed, beating both April Wills and the girl, police said.

The girl told police Carl Wills then dragged her and her mother into the car and took off once again.

As they were leaving the apartment complex, Carl Wills shot the girl's mother but continued to drive, police said.

Police took up the pursuit in the 5900 block of Georgetown Road and chased the car until 25th and Pennsylvania streets, where officers performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle, said IMPD Sgt. Matthew Mount.

As officers were approaching the car, Carl Wills shot himself, taking his own life, police said. April Wills was also found shot to death inside the car.

The 13-year-old suffered a welt from being hit on the head.

Police said Carl Wills had been arrested several times in the past, with a conviction of reckless homicide in September 1992, for which he served seven years in prison. Police also said there were several reports of domestic abuse involving April Wills and another past girlfriend of Carl Wills.

April Will's pastor said she had just begun to get her life together.

"She just graduated from one of the local colleges last year and was seeking employment," said Pastor Wayne Moore of Olivet Baptist Church. "She'd done a lot of things to improve her life, but this was one area of her life that she just couldn't get a hold of."

April Will's 13-year-old daughter has been placed into protective custody. Police said her father is serving time in prison, so she will go to live with her grandmother.