INDIANAPOLIS — A harrowing scene erupted inside an Indianapolis Chuck E. Cheese on Sunday after a man was gunned down in the family-friendly restaurant and arcade’s parking lot.
“There was chaos. They were met with chaos. There were people trying to flee the facility. There were people trying to get in their cars and get away from the area as gunshots had been fired in the area,” Officer Samone Burris with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department told WTHR.
According to the TV station, the shooting shattered glass right where parents and their kids were eating, celebrating birthday parties and socializing.
“You know, you were just grabbing kids. It didn’t necessarily have to be your kid. You just want to make sure all the kids were down,” Shantel Dalton told WTHR.
The coroner’s office identified the victim on Monday as 34-year-old Anthony Tinnin, and police believe the suspect may have possibly been driving a white sport utility vehicle, the TV station reported.
Police are still asking anyone with business surveillance video or cell phone video in the area of the 5:30 p.m. incident to contact homicide detectives, WXIN reported.
On Tuesday, corporate officials with Chuck E. Cheese’s issued the following statement:
“We’re aware of the tragic incident that occurred in the parking lot outside of our Washington Street Indianapolis location late Sunday afternoon. We offer our sincere condolences to the family of the victim and are thankful for the dedicated service of community law enforcement and the swift actions of our alert staff members. For our employees, at this location, who had to manage this terrible situation, we are making sure they have the counsel and support they need.”
The restaurant was closed Monday for repairs, WXIN reported.
Terrance Muncy told the TV station that a stray bullet broke the front window of his neighboring store, Grayskull Collectibles.
“I’m more concerned about the kids in Chuck E Cheese’s. They saw everything go down. Toys are toys. They can be replaced,” Muncy told WXIN.
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