A 17-year-old boy, Raymond Childs III, shot and killed five members of his own family, including his brother’s pregnant girlfriend.
This case is a heartbreaking story of family struggles, violence, and a young man’s dark side.
Let's get into it.
What Led to the Crime
This tragedy was the result of years of tension and violence in the Child's family home.
According to Raymond’s defense attorney, Raymond’s father, Raymond Childs Jr., was a strict and often harsh disciplinarian.
The home was described as a place where the children lived in fear and couldn’t wait to grow up and leave.
On January 23, 2021, Raymond, then 17, took his father’s car without permission and stayed out late.
When he returned home after midnight, his father confronted him about breaking curfew and told him he would be punished.
This confrontation seems to have pushed Raymond over the edge.
That night, instead of waiting to face his father’s punishment, Raymond made a terrible choice.
He picked up a gun and turned it on his family, as reported by New York Times
Raymond’s attorney, Ray Casanova, later explained that the household was far from stable.
He called it “a place of violence, abuse, and neglect,” where the children were exposed to constant turmoil.
While this doesn’t excuse Raymond’s actions, it helps explain the pressure he was reportedly under.
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| The home |
What Happened That Night
In the early hours of January 24, 2021, the local police department received a call about a shooting on the east side of Indianapolis.
When officers arrived, they found Raymond’s 15-year-old brother, Xavier, outside the family home.
He was badly hurt, with multiple gunshot wounds, but he was alive.
Xavier told the police that his older brother, Raymond, had shot him and the rest of their family.
When police entered the home, they found a horrifying scene.
Five people were dead: Raymond’s father, Raymond Childs Jr.; his stepmother, Kezzie; his older brother, Elijah; his younger sister, Rita; and Elijah’s pregnant girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins.
Crime scene investigators later revealed that Raymond had moved from room to room, shooting each family member.
Xavier, who survived the attack, shared what happened that night.
He said he woke up to the sound of gunshots.
Luckily, he hid while Raymond killed their parents and siblings.
When Xavier tried to run, Raymond chased him.
Xavier even offered Raymond $44 in cash while he begged for his life, but Raymond shot him twice.
Even with his injuries, Xavier managed to escape and get help from a neighbor.
After the shootings, Raymond left the house and later returned with his girlfriend, acting as if he had just learned about the crime.
His girlfriend told investigators that Raymond seemed nervous and was “acting a clown” when they arrived at the crime scene.
Using the information from Xavier and other evidence, the local police department tracked Raymond to a relative’s home in Plainfield, a nearby town.
On January 25, 2021, just one day after the shootings, Raymond was arrested there without incident.
Justice for the Victims: Raymond Childs Trial and Sentencing
The criminal case against Raymond Childs III went through two trials
He was charged with six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of carrying a handgun without a license.
The murder charges included the deaths of his father, Raymond Childs Jr.; his stepmother, Kezzie; his brother, Elijah; his sister, Rita; his brother’s pregnant girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins; and Kiara’s unborn child.
The attempted murder charge was for shooting his younger brother, Xavier, who survived the attack.
Raymond’s first trial took place in 2023, but it ended in a mistrial, as reported by Fox59 News
In October 2024, Raymond faced a second trial.
This time, the jury heard all the evidence, including Xavier’s testimony, cell phone records, and the murder weapon found in Raymond’s possession.
The prosecution argued that Raymond had premeditated the killings in a cold and calculated manner.
The defense, led by Raymond’s attorney, Ray Casanova, argued that Raymond had grown up in a violent and abusive household, which affected his mental state.
However, the jury wasn’t convinced.
After less than three hours of deliberation, they found Raymond guilty of all charges.
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| Raymond Childs III |
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| Raymond Childs III in court |
On the day of sentencing, Judge Charles Miller called the killings “one of the worst mass murders ever committed in Indianapolis history.”
He sentenced Raymond to 360 years in prison—55 years for each of the six murder charges, plus an additional 30 years for the attempted murder charge.
The sentences were to be served consecutively, meaning Raymond would spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole.
During the sentencing hearing, Raymond maintained his innocence.
He told the court, “I’m not a killer. I’m not a murderer. I’m not a bad person.” He also addressed the family of Kiara Hawkins, saying, “I promise you I didn’t hurt your daughter.”
Deputy Prosecutor Daniel Cicchini expressed disappointment that Raymond refused to take responsibility for his actions.
He said, “It would have been nice if he had expressed remorse about what had happened.”
While the sentence brought a sense of justice, it couldn’t undo the pain and loss felt by the victims’ families.
For Xavier, the only survivor, the trial and sentencing were a chance to honor his family’s memory.
Despite his trauma, his bravery in speaking out played a key role in ensuring Raymond was held accountable.
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