INDIANAPOLIS — Police are investigating a deadly shooting on the city’s east side that claimed the life of a well-known community activist who fought passionately against violence.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department reported that officers were called to Arlington Avenue and 38th Street around 11 a.m. following reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived, they found an adult male inside a vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family, friends, and officials confirmed that the victim was Ron Gee, a prominent anti-violence advocate in Indianapolis who founded Cease Fire Indy.
“Ron was one of those rare individuals,” said Indianapolis City County Councilor Keith Graves in an interview with FOX59/CBS4. “He had the credibility to reach people in our community that very few could, and he used that in a remarkably positive way.”
Graves, among many who knew Gee, was deeply affected by his loss.
“My pain is heavy right now,” Graves shared. “I’m hurt. I wanted to see Ron succeed. Ron wanted to see me succeed.”
Gee founded Cease Fire Indy to combat gun violence and bring communities together. In 2022, he also started a youth summer program called The Village Project.
Mike Ford, who knew Gee, recalled their collaboration. “He had a kid’s program, and I had a kid’s program,” Ford said. “He suggested we join forces, and I agreed.”
Ford described Gee’s energy as unmatched and expressed disbelief at his death from the violence he sought to prevent.
“It’s almost unreal,” Ford remarked. “It’s one of those moments where you sit down and wonder, ‘how do we move forward from this?’”
Gee had been critically injured in a shooting on Christmas Eve 2018, which police believed was a targeted attack. Despite the setbacks, those who knew him said he continued his work with determination.
While his friends and family grieve his untimely death, they believe his message will endure.
“It’s one of those things that I hope doesn’t go in vain,” Graves said. “We lost Ron, but my hope is that everyone understands his mission and that his work continues even bigger than he could have ever imagined.”
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with no further information released at this time.