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Reward offered in deaths of two young kids killed by stray bullets in Indy

Nya Rodgerick.JPG
Posted at 10:36 AM, May 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-11 13:20:34-04

INDIANAPOLIS — A reward is now being offered for information about the shooting deaths of two young Indianapolis residents.

Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition leader Reverend Charles Harrison announced early Monday morning that a $1,000 reward was being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the deaths of 8-year-old Rodgerick Payne Jr. and 16-year-old Nya Rae Cope.

Rodgerick was just finishing up dinner in the living room of his home in the 3000 block of North Tacoma Avenue when a stray bullet came through the window and struck him on March 30.

READ | Indy 8-year-old was eating dinner when he was killed by a stray bullet

Detectives are unsure who the target of that bullet was, but they are still hoping to find that person and speak to them.

"We believe there are people out there who absolutely know the details about what happened. We need those people to come forward," IMPD Detective Chris Edwards said last month. "At least the person who was getting shot at. We don't care why they were getting shot at, but that person knows who was shooting at them and they know why it happened. We really need those people to come forward and speak to us."

Just over a month later Nya was in a vehicle with her family near East 38th Street and North Arlington Avenue when she was struck by a stray bullet.

READ | Family seeks justice for 16-year-old killed by stray bullet

Police say Nya's family was likely in the wrong place at the wrong time, and they believe the bullet that killed the young teen was fired by someone in a large gathering that was taking place in the area at that time.

So far no arrests have been made and police do not have any suspects in either shooting.

The Indy Ten Point Coalition is offering a $1,000 reward for each case.

If you have any information about either case or any additional information to share with detectives contact IMPD or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.