Raymond Childs Sentenced to 360 Years for Family Murders
INDIANAPOLIS – Raymond Childs III was sentenced to 360 years in prison on Tuesday for murdering six people, including four family members, in a tragic shooting that shocked the Indianapolis community.
The incident occurred in January 2021, following an argument over Childs staying out late.
According to prosecutors, Childs methodically moved through the family home, shooting each victim. This devastating act resulted in the loss of six innocent lives.
The victims included Childs’ father, Raymond Childs Jr.; his stepmother, Kizzie Childs, his 13-year-old sister, Rita Childs, his 18-year-old brother, Elijah Childs, Elijah’s 19-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Kiara Hawkins, and her unborn son, Khaos.
The trial took place in October 2024. After deliberating for less than three hours, the jury found Childs guilty of the six murder charges. The court subsequently sentenced him to 55 years for each count, plus an additional 30 years for the attempted murder of his younger brother, Xavier Childs, who survived the attack.
Prosecutors described the killings as premeditated, citing overwhelming evidence. “We have cellphone evidence, and he was caught with a weapon,”
said Dan Cicchini, Chief Trial Deputy with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, Childs maintained his innocence throughout the trial. In his remarks to the court, Childs stated, “I’m innocent. I think about the victims every day.”
Childs’ defense team argued that he grew up in a home with strict and sometimes violent discipline, potentially contributing to his actions. A sister of Childs spoke in his defense, saying, “He’s never been a violent person. He cares about people.”
The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this tragic event, highlighting the devastating consequences of domestic violence.
