Authorities identified the victim as Terri Lee Heady, 68, and the suspected gunman as Terry E. Morgan, 58.
INDIANAPOLIS — A fatal shooting during an attempted robbery inside Josephine’s, a women’s boutique on East Washington Street in Irvington, left an employee dead Thursday evening, Dec. 4, and the man suspected in the attack later died of a self-inflicted gunshot during a police encounter nearby, officials said.
The case unfolded within minutes on the historic business strip, where Indianapolis officers arrived just before 7 p.m. to reports of gunfire. Inside the store, medics pronounced 68-year-old Terri Lee Heady dead. Police said an armed man ran from the scene and was confronted a block away; after several minutes of negotiations, he shot himself. The suspect was identified as 58-year-old Terry E. Morgan. No officers fired their weapons. Investigators called it a likely robbery gone wrong and began collecting video and witness statements to reconstruct the sequence.
Officers closed the 5600 block of E. Washington Street as crime-scene specialists documented shell casings, trajectories and entry points. Detectives canvassed neighboring restaurants and shops for footage that could show the suspect’s movements before and after the shooting. The Marion County Coroner’s Office will finalize autopsy findings for both Heady and Morgan. Police said the working theory remains that Morgan entered Josephine’s to rob the business and that Heady was shot during the encounter. Officials emphasized that all known people involved have been identified and that there is no continuing threat.
Neighbors described Josephine’s as a staple along the corridor, a stop for gifts and alterations that drew regulars from across the east side. By Friday morning, a wreath and flowers had been placed outside the boutique, and handwritten notes leaned against the front step. Some shopkeepers delayed opening to speak with detectives and to check whether their cameras captured the suspect running through alleys toward side streets. The normally busy crosswalks were quieter as workers paused at the memorial before the lunch hour.
Police expect to release a timeline after they finish reviewing evidence from inside the store and along the block where the encounter with Morgan occurred. With the suspected gunman deceased, prosecutors are not anticipated to pursue criminal charges, but IMPD will forward a complete case file for administrative review. Additional updates are likely after autopsy results and as detectives finish gathering video from adjacent buildings and transit stops on E. Washington Street.
By late Friday, traffic had returned and the storefront remained shuttered with a small candlelight display at the curb. Residents traded memories of Heady and brief thank-yous to first responders as evening commuters moved past the memorial on their way home.
As of Friday night, the investigation continues; the next major update is expected after the coroner issues findings and detectives complete their video canvass in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated December 6, 2025.