On the morning of July 12, 2025, Natysha Offett woke up filled with anticipation for a family trip to King’s Island, a day meant for joy and togetherness. But when she went to rouse her 12-year-old son, Isreal “Izzy” Offett, she found his bed empty. Concerned, she called his phone, but there was no answer. Using his phone’s location, she discovered he was on the west side of Indianapolis, far from their home. Moments later, her world was shattered by devastating news.
Around 3:55 a.m. that Saturday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 5100 block of West 38th Street, near Lafayette Road and Moller Road. In a parking lot near a discount store and a food truck, they found Izzy and his 24-year-old brother, Wayland Coe, inside a vehicle, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Medics rushed the brothers to local hospitals in critical condition, but despite efforts to save them, both were pronounced dead.
Natysha, 50, was left in shock. “I just don’t know how to feel right now. I’m in shock,” she told reporters. The family had been preparing for a day of fun, but instead, Natysha faced the unimaginable task of identifying her sons through black-and-white photographs provided by the coroner. “They just showed us black and white photographs. That’s it,” she said, clinging to her own cherished memories and photos of her boys.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear. Natysha and her family are grappling with questions about why Izzy and Wayland were so far from home in the early morning hours and who was responsible for their deaths. “Somebody had answered [Izzy’s] phone and let her know that they was up there,” Natysha said, noting that the family has not yet recovered the brothers’ phones or their car. She issued a plea to the perpetrators: “They need to turn their self in. It’s not gonna be avoided. We’re gonna find out.”
Wayland Coe, a father to a four-year-old son and a dedicated employee at U-Haul, was described by family as a protector and role model. His uncle, William Bumpus III, a pastor, noted that Wayland was reserved but vibrant among family, often ensuring his younger brother stayed on the right path. “Wayland’s thing was that he wanted to make sure Izzy stayed out of trouble, which is why he was always with him,” Bumpus said. Izzy, an energetic 12-year-old, loved skateboarding and was known for his politeness and enthusiasm for family gatherings, often helping with younger children.
The family, deeply close-knit with active parents and grandparents who are pastors, is reeling from the loss. Caroline Kennedy, the brothers’ older cousin, expressed disbelief: “I don’t understand why they were there and at that time of night. They were good boys. Izzy was our heart.” The tragedy has left Natysha preparing to bury both sons, a heartbreaking pivot from the joyful day she had planned.
The IMPD is actively investigating the shooting but has not released information about a suspect or motive. The Marion County Coroner’s Office will determine the exact cause and manner of death for Izzy and Wayland. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Detective James Hurt at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
This shooting comes amid heightened efforts by Indianapolis police to curb youth violence, following a mass shooting downtown just days earlier that killed two teenagers and injured five others. The city is implementing stricter curfew enforcement, increased downtown patrols, and enhanced surveillance to address the rising tide of gun violence. For Natysha Offett and her family, however, these measures come too late, as they navigate the profound grief of losing two beloved sons and brothers.
