Raymond Lee Childs III is a convicted mass murderer from Indianapolis who, at age 17, killed six members of his own family in January 2021. He was sentenced in March 2025 to 360 years in prison without parole.
📖 The Crime
• On January 24, 2021, Childs carried out a shooting rampage inside his family’s home near East 34th Street and North Sherman Drive in Indianapolis.
• The victims included:
• Raymond Childs Jr. (father, 42)
• Kezzie Childs (stepmother, 42)
• Elijah Childs (brother, 18)
• Rita Childs (sister, 13)
• Kiara Hawkins (brother’s pregnant girlfriend, 19)
• Unborn child, Khaos Hawkins
• His 15-year-old brother Xavier was shot but survived after fleeing to a neighbor’s house for help.
⚖️ Motive & Background
• Reports indicate Childs was angry at his father for punishing him for breaking curfew, which escalated into violence.
• At the time of the murders, he was 17 years old.
• He was arrested the following day at a relative’s home.
🏛️ Trial & Sentencing
• His first trial in July 2024 ended in a mistrial due to witness testimony issues.
• In October 2024, a jury found him guilty of six counts of murder, attempted murder, and carrying a handgun without a license.
• On March 10, 2025, a Marion County judge sentenced him to 360 years in prison — 55 years for each murder and 30 years for the attempted murder of his younger brother.
• During sentencing, Childs proclaimed his innocence, saying: “I’m innocent. There’s not a day I don’t think about them or wish they were here.”
🚨 Key Takeaways
• Age at crime: 17 years old.
• Victims: Six family members, including an unborn child.
• Survivor: Younger brother Xavier.
• Sentence: 360 years in prison, no parole.
• Motive: Anger over parental discipline.
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