13-Year-Old Charged In Fatal Shooting Of Indiana Woman During Home Invasion

A 13-year-old accused of fatally shooting an Indiana woman during an alleged home invasion has been charged with murder and burglary in connection to her death.

The charges were filed against the teen in the Juvenile Division of Marion County Superior Court on Tuesday. According to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, the juvenile is eligible to be tried in court as an adult on the murder charge.

In Indiana, youths 15 and younger can be tried as an adult for murder. But, a juvenile court has to waive its jurisdiction first. Based on the evidence provided by the defense and prosecution, a juvenile court judge decides whether the child should be tried as an adult. However, the judge has not made any decision yet in the said case, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Indianapolis Metropolitan police officers responded to a shooting report at a residence in the 1200 block of Windsor Street around 5 a.m. on Oct. 10. They found 69-year-old Antonia Reiner with gunshot wounds inside her home.

Reiner was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. She was pronounced dead shortly.

Later that day, police arrested the juvenile in connection to the incident. The minor's name has not been released. "Homicide detectives continued their investigation and were able to arrest an alleged juvenile suspect," the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement.

At the time of the shooting, Reiner’s husband and other family members were present inside the home.

Devastated neighbors expressed fear and frustration over the sad demise of Reiner. Martha Latta, friend and neighbor of Reiner, recalled the deceased woman warmly.

"If you can't be safe in your own home, then where can you safe?" Latta was quoted as saying by WTHR. "She had a grandbaby on the way. I mean she loved her grandchildren so much. She was so kind-hearted. She was really open to meeting people and really open to being involved in the neighborhood. She would be out here doing this if it were anybody else. She would be probably standing where I'm standing trying to help somebody else's family."

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.