The wife of an Indianapolis pastor was shot and killed during a home break-in Tuesday morning while their young son sat in another room.
Emergency crews were called to a northwest-side home on Sunnyfield Court around 8:35 a.m. Tuesday for a report of an unresponsive woman. They arrived to find 28-year-old Amanda Blackburn in critical condition suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Metro PD block off Sunny field Ct. Hours after a woman is found unresponsive inside her home with head trauma... https://t.co/ow3vSv2hUh
— Ebone Monet (@EboneMonet26) November 10, 2015
Blackburn was transported the hospital, where she was pronounced dead Wednesday. A family spokesman said organ donation preparations were underway.
Police said Blackburn is the wife of a local pastor, Davey Blackburn. She was pregnant with their second child.
Yesterday, our pastor Davey Blackburn came home from the gym to discover someone had broken into his home and his wife...
Posted by Resonate Church on Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Blackburn's husband, with whom she helped found the Resonate Church, posted a statement Wednesday night on his church's website:
It’s impossible to communicate all the emotions my heart has been forced to process. My wife was such a beautiful, gracious, loving woman of God. I have not only lost my ministry partner and support but also my very best friend. There is no way to prepare yourself for circumstances like these. As deeply as I am hurting I am hopeful and confident that good things will come of this. I rest in the truth of Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.
Thank you for understanding my desire to take these next few days to continue to grieve for Amanda Grace. My focus right now is to let The Lord minister to my heart as I continue to shepherd little Weston’s. I’ll be taking this time to focus on being a great follower of Jesus, dad, family member, and pastor to our growing church.
Amanda made it her life’s calling to love and serve everyone she knew. Even more, she has made it her life’s mission to see as many people as possible come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. I know that in her death and legacy even more people will come to a saving faith in Christ. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt her desire for me would be to continue what we’ve started here in Indy. I hold firm to the belief that God is still good, that He takes our tragedy and turns it into triumph, and that the best truly is yet to come.
Neighbors along Sunnyfield Court said they were horrified to learn of the crime.
"This isn't that type of neighborhood. Those people didn't deserve it. We've pretty much have been praying and crying all night," neighbor Reginald Townsel said.
On Wednesday, IMPD posted on Facebook that Crime Stoppers was offering a reward for information. Police said they believe the incident started as a robbery, and there were signs of a struggle.
Attn all: Please call Crime Stoppers with any information regarding the homicide of Amanda Blackburn.
Posted by IMPD Northwest District on Wednesday, 11 November 2015
A home break-in was reported a few doors down around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police were investigating to see if the two were related.
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