An Ethnographic Study of Black Teenagers, Gun Violence, and the Youth Control Complex in Indianapolis

Abstract

The violent gun-related death of teenager David Lowery in 2020, alongside troubling statistical trends, catalyzed this research on teen gun violence in Indianapolis. While Black teenagers are not inherently more violent than their white counterparts, they often live in racially segregated neighborhoods that foster isolation, economic hardship, and higher crime rates. Structural inequities, combined with historical disinvestment, leave these communities vulnerable to cycles of violence. This study employs community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles and multi-modal ethnography, centering teenage voices—including a teenage co-researcher and video producer—to explore the lived realities of youth impacted by gun-related offenses. Data collection began with semi-structured interviews of ten young people charged with gun-related crimes as teenagers by the Marion County Prosecutor's Office. These youth described peer influence, social media portrayals, and fear as motivations for carrying firearms. To address gun violence, teenagers recommended increased community activities, mentoring, and counseling, alongside improvements to their neighborhoods, such as repairing abandoned homes and fostering deeper relationships with youth. Many expressed feelings of entrapment within their environments, highlighting the need for safe spaces that instill hope and provide tangible opportunities for change. The research team created a short film based on interview data and screened it with youth workers and stakeholders within the youth control complex to gather feedback and spur discourse. The significance of incorporating a teenage co-researcher is amplified through storytelling, demonstrating how participatory approaches shift narratives around expertise and youth agency. This project revealed four critical recommendations: (1) Reconsider who is an expert as research is designed and carried out: (2) Dismantle the youth control complex and focus resources no developing relationship sand connections with families; (3) Foster discussion and conversation for an educated civil society; (4) Critique the failure of local elected officials and public policy to support families and build thriving neighborhoods. This study contributes to conversations on violence prevention, racial justice, and youth advocacy, emphasizing how rethinking expertise and prioritizing youth-led initiatives can generate systemic solutions to gun violence rather than merely treating symptoms.