Carmel teenager shot at home during attempted robbery

Carmel police are investigating an attempted robbery that ended in the shooting of a 17-year-old girl inside her home.

According to the Carmel Police Department, Carmel High School student was at home on fall break when a man broke into the house around noon. It happened in the Clay Center subdivision. Police said the man shot the girl in the leg following a brief encounter and then ran away.

Investigators say the girl is in "good condition" at St. Vincent's Hospital on 86th Street.

"She's a sweetheart and it's just terrible," said Julie Johnson, who shares a backyard with the victim's family.

Johnson said she was outside raking leaves and watching her grandson when the shooting reportedly took place.

"I didn't hear anything, never saw anything," Johnson said. "It was scary, very scary."

Carmel police set up an armed perimeter of the neighborhood for several hours in hopes of finding the man.

"They've been all through my back yard, they've been through several times with dogs," Johnson said. "They told me to get in the house now, and I went in the house and locked up. You know, you feel like you’re a prisoner in  your own home. You've gotta kind of stay inside and hunker down, because you don't know where he is."

Police called off the perimeter late in the afternoon, but they continue to search for the gunman. The victim described him as a white male and 5-feet-8-inches tall. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black ski mask.

"We'd like for the public to help us out," said Officer DJ Schouff with the Carmel Police Department. "Not only protecting themselves and keeping things secure in their residences but certainly to let us know to contact us with any information and anything suspicious in the area." 

Johnson said she and her neighbors are definitely keeping watch after a scary afternoon.

"This is a great neighborhood. It's so quiet, everybody knows everybody, I mean, and it's fall break so all the kids are home," Johnson said.

If you have any information please call Carmel Police at 317-571-2511