#WTLCIndyNews: Ten Point Coalition Refocuses Efforts; Latitude 360 Closes; Powerball Soars; President Obama Spells Out Indiana’s Link To Gun Crimes…

Source: David Hills / Getty

Kim’s Indy & National News & Sports Headlines for Friday

The Ten Point Coalition is scaling back its city-wide reach in favor of a more focused approach. The faith-based anti-crime group says it’ll concentrate on Butler-Tarkington and the northwest side. Last year, the organization’s workers and volunteers were spread out over the city’s most crime-challenged areas—all six of them. During that time, Butler-Tarkington and the northwest side each had four homicides in 2015.

A Fishers teen, who pleaded guilty to the “thrill kill” of an elderly man, could spend 80-years behind bars.  Maxwell Winkler pleaded guilty yesterday to murder with a firearm enhancement.  Winkler was 17-years-old in November 2014 when he shot 73-year-old Henry Kim and slashed his throat while he was walking in Windemere Park. Court documents say Winkler wrote out a plan to commit the murder, including a list of tools needed and instructions for cleaning up the crime scene.

There could be more of an incentive for grocery stores to open-up in poorer neighborhoods. An Indiana Senate panel yesterday okayed the state’s food desert legislation. The proposal would use state grants to open stores to serve neighborhoods that are without fresh fruits or vegetables.

Latitude 360 is closed for good.  The entertainment complex shut its doors yesterday because of financial trouble.  The “Indianapolis Star” reports, on Wednesday, Latitude 360 and its landlord settled a federal lawsuit over more than three-million dollars in unpaid rent.  Latitude 360 briefly shut down last month after the Indiana Department of Revenue plastered the building with signs suggesting it had failed to turn over sales taxes.

The Powerball jackpot is climbing again…to the biggest prize in history —$700 million. And, you could get a chance to win the humongous jackpot for free. Zero investment from you. Today, the Hoosier Lottery is giving out 200 free tickets in several locations. It began at 8 a.m. at the Pendleton Pike Kroger store, and continues at Noon at the Kroger at 1330 W. Southport Rd. and later this evening at Marsh at 5 p.m. at 56^th and Georgetown Road. The jackpot could still go up between now and the drawing Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Right now your odds of winning are about 1 in 300 million.

Metro police say an officer shot at one of four men who were using Airsoft guns to make a movie. IMPD commanders say it happened at the former Central State Hospital Thursday evening. The officer missed in this police-action shooting. IMPD called out the SWAT team, and was later able to arrest the men without any other incidents. They’re likely facing trespassing charges.

As President Obama continues to take on the divisive issue of gun control, here’s what this looks like on the local and regional level. People talk about ChiRaq—the nickname for Chicago and the growing murder rate there.  We also know Indy had a record year of homicides in 2015. We also now know there is a direct link between guns, Indiana and Chicago. Obama is calling our state’s gun laws “lax” and says Hoosier state gun sales are feeding Chicago’s gun violence. The president had a town hall meeting on CNN Thursday. During it, he said many of the guns used in crimes in Chicago are bought in northern Indiana. Mr. Obama says 30-to 40-percent of the guns in Chicago come from Indiana. Some of those firearms also make their way south, here to Indy. The president has called gun violence an epidemic and one of the top threats to public health and safety in this nation.

The Texas police trooper who arrested a woman who later died in custody is now free on bond after surrendering to authorities Thursday. Brian Encinia appeared at the Waller County Jail, the same place Sandra Bland died of a reported suicide three days after her arrest last July. He was escorted by Texas Rangers, although his surrender on a perjury charge was voluntary. Encinia posted $2,500 bond and left the jail with that protective escort.

Do you know someone who’s fighting gun violence on our streets? Maybe they’d be a great candidate to be our 3^rd annual Hometown Champion. Nominate them here on our web today.

In Sports… The Pacers are in action as their road trip continues tonight against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Tip is at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Indianapolis Weather…Rain early…then cloudy with showers this afternoon. High: 47 degrees.

### (@1067WTLC) ###