🌱 The Post Road Music School + Police Officer Gets Probation

Happy Wednesday, Indianapolis! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today.

First, today's weather:

Rain, then ice in the p.m.. High: 38 Low: 21.

Here are the top three stories in Indianapolis today:

1. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has arrested 19-year-old Anthony Rhea in the killing of a woman who was traveling in a car on the city’s northwest side last week. 21-year-old Alexis Dompier was struck by a bullet on Jan. 27 just after 2:30 pm while she was a passenger in a vehicle traveling through the intersection of 38th Street and Michigan Road/Doctor MLK Jr. The driver was not injured and flagged down a passerby who called 911, but Dompier was pronounced dead at the scene. (Fox 59)
2. On Monday, an Indianapolis police officer was sentenced to 363 days probation for punching a student in 2019. Robert Lawson was videotaped hitting a 17-year-old male student in 2019 outside Shortridge High School, which he claims was done out of self-defense. Lawson was convicted in Nov. by a jury of official misconduct, perjury, and false informing, but the latter two charges were vacated by a judge on Monday. (WFYI)
3. A local musician is using music to change the perception of his neighborhood from a negative place with a lot of crime to a more positive community. Eugene Strader Jr. is the founder and director of The Post Road Music School, which was created inside the Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church. Because he doesn't want price to be a barrier for someone to take lessons, the first lesson is free and after that costs can be worked out, according to Strader Jr. (CBS 4 Indianapolis)

From our sponsor:

Today's Indianapolis Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com.

Today in Indianapolis:

• After School Play Date: Kid’s Coding Club, At Indianapolis Public Library Virtual (4:30 PM)
• English Conversation Circle, At Indianapolis Public Library Virtual (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Want to try apple cinnamon Kit Kat bars, squid or roasted cumin lamb-flavored potato chips, or yogurt and Japanese white grape Fanta soda? Then you might want to check out Nap Snacks at 1323 W. 86th St. (Instagram)
• Congratulations to Indy CARES! They had a great January of helping pets stay with their families instead of coming into the shelter. (Facebook)
• In honoring Black History Month through the Minor League Baseball's "The Nine" initiative, the Indianapolis Indians are excited to recognize five Black ballplayers who impacted the Indianapolis community over their respective baseball careers. (Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Franklin Pest Solutions — (Visit website)
• Integrated Deicing Services — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Taxes in Retirement Seminar (February 8)
• Add your event

Loving the Indianapolis Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers

That's it for today! I'll see you soon.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.