IMPD officers found 43-year-old Thomas Nolan and his wife, 41-year-old Ashley Nolan, dead in the backyard of a residence on Waterson Way Circle.
INDIANAPOLIS — Police say a former IMPD reserve officer killed his wife, and shot his two daughters before turning the gun on himself.
“My heart just ache for those children, no parents, all we can do is pray,” Nancy Snoddy said.
Nancy snoddy speaks with a heavy heart knowing what transpired in her south side neighborhood Monday night.
According to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to a call about a domestic disturbance with a weapon in the 600 block of Waterson Way Circle around 9 p.m.
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IMPD investigating murder-suicide
When officers arrived, they heard gunshots coming from a residence. Police said dispatch was still on the phone with the caller at this time.
Officers made entry into the residence and found 43-year-old Thomas Nolan and his wife, 41-year-old Ashley Nolan, dead in the backyard of the residence.
Provided by family
Family describes Ashley as a loving mother, daughter and sister, who always had a kind word and a smile on her face.
She was a faithful Christian who made it a priority to have her daughters in church every Sunday.
Her daughters, two teenage girls, are still recovering in the hospital.
The girls are students in the Perry Township School district. The district made the following statement:
We are deeply saddened and disturbed to hear about the tragic incident that happened Monday night. Although we are limited on what we can say, due to the ongoing investigation, we wanted to express condolences to our students who were directly impacted. We ask that you join us in keeping the students and their family in your thoughts and prayers. The Perry Township Schools Crisis Team has resources available, including counselors, to staff and students who need additional support.
Perry Township Schools
IMPD calls the tragic incident a domestic disturbance that turned into a murder-suicide.
Danyette Smith, the director of Indy Champions with the Indy Public Safety Foundation says domestic violence does not discriminate — and it can happen anywhere.
“The cycle of abuse is the same for everyone who is going through domestic violence situation — the stories are the same,” Smith said.
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Smith says these girls are going to need all the support they can get to cope with this unimaginable tragedy.
“They are going to have to have professionals —they are going to have to go through therapy and they are going to have to do that walk and that journey because this will be forever embedded in their minds,” Smith said.
Thomas Nolan was a 21 year veteran IMPD reserve officer who retired in May 2024 after 20 years with the department.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can can the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
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