IMPD: Man charged with murder in west-side killing last year

A man faces a murder charge in connection with a shooting death last year on the west side, Indianapolis police said Friday.

Keith Smith, 36, was charged Wednesday with murder and illegal gun possession. He was already in custody on an unrelated case, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said in a news release.

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The charges stem from the killing of Arnell Davis, 40, on Sept. 29.

IMPD officers responded to the area of West 38th Street and North High School Road on a report of a gunshot victim. Officers located Davis, who appeared to have been shot.

Police said at the time that at least one unidentified suspect pulled up next to an SUV and fired. Medics pronounced Davis dead at the scene.

The shooting happened during a particularly deadly month for Indianapolis. September ended with 17 criminal homicides, which fell just behind May and August as the most deadly months of 2018. The city eventually set a new criminal homicide record for the fourth year in a row.

Contact IndyStar reporter Crystal Hill at 317-444-6094 or cnhill@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @crysnhill.