INDIANAPOLIS – A quiet Saturday morning turned into an unimaginable tragedy for Natysha Offett, an Indianapolis mother now mourning the loss of her two sons, 12-year-old Izzy Offett and 24-year-old Wayland Coe. The brothers were fatally shot in a senseless act of gun violence in the early hours of July 12, 2025, in a parking lot in the 5100 block of West 38th Street, adding to the city’s ongoing struggle with rising gun violence.
“I just don’t know how to feel right now. I’m in shock,” Natysha said, her voice heavy with grief. “It doesn’t feel real.”
The shooting occurred around 3:55 a.m. near a discount store, where crime scene tape now marks the site of the tragedy. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers responded to reports of shots fired and found the brothers inside a car, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Medics rushed Izzy and Wayland to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but despite efforts to save them, both were pronounced dead.
The tragedy struck as Natysha was preparing for what was meant to be a joyful family day—a trip to King’s Island. She woke early, ready to gather her children, only to find Izzy missing from his room. “I called his phone. No answer,” she recalled. “I had my daughter check his location, and she said it was out west.” Desperate, she called again, and a stranger answered Izzy’s phone, delivering the devastating news. “The only people we talked to was the coroner,” she said. “We still don’t have his phones. We don’t know where the car is—none of it.”
The identification process was heart-wrenching. Natysha was shown black-and-white photographs of her sons to confirm their identities. “They just showed us black-and-white photographs. That’s it,” she said, her words carrying the weight of a mother’s unimaginable loss. “I never got to hold them. I never got to say goodbye.”
Now, Natysha holds tightly to memories of her sons—moments captured in photos of birthdays, family dinners, and shared laughter. Izzy, a vibrant 12-year-old, was full of curiosity and joy, while Wayland, a protective 24-year-old, was finding his path in adulthood. These memories are all she has left of her boys, whose lives were cut short in an instant.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, with IMPD still working to uncover what led to this devastating event. No suspects have been named, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear, leaving Natysha and her family with more questions than answers.
With a mother’s resolve, Natysha issued a powerful plea to those responsible: “They need to turn themselves in. It’s not going to be avoided. We’re going to find out.” Her words reflect both her pain and her determination to seek justice for her sons.
“I don’t have no feelings right now,” she said quietly. “I’m just lost for words. Both of my boys are gone.”
Instead of planning a summer getaway, the Offett family now faces the unbearable task of arranging funerals for two young men taken far too soon. The loss has left a void in their lives and in the Indianapolis community, which continues to grapple with a surge in gun violence. The city has seen a troubling wave of shootings, with recent reports highlighting a violent Fourth of July weekend that left five dead and 25 injured, underscoring the urgency of addressing this crisis.
As Natysha navigates this profound grief, the community rallies around her, offering prayers and support. Her story is a stark reminder of the human toll of gun violence and a call for accountability, healing, and change in Indianapolis.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-3475 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
