Indianapolis, Indiana

From the Indianapolis Star of September 5, 2006

Indianapolis records 100th homicide

Indianapolis police are investigating the shooting death this morning of a 38-year-old man on the Northeastside.

The death marks the county’s 100th homicide of 2006.Gary Branch was shot to death by his live-in girlfriend at a home in the 6600 block of Meadowlark Drive shortly after 6 a.m., Detective Michael Mitchell said.

Branch’s girlfriend, Jeowanda Hayes, 43, dialed 911 and waited for police. She told police she was acting in self-defense, Mitchell said.

“There was an argument for several hours inside the house. It had gotten to the point where he reached for a handgun,” Mitchell said. “She was in fear of her life. She reached for her handgun and shot him.”

Hayes told police she had been the victim of domestic violence, but there are no reports of previous incidents. Mitchell said several other people came forward to tell police the couple had a history of violence.

Hayes was not arrested. Police forwarded their evidence to the Marion County prosecutor’s office for review.

From the Indianapolis Star of September 22, 2006

Prosecutors reject woman's self-defense claim

Marion County prosecutors say a shooting that initially appeared to be self-defense was actually intentional.

Geowanda Hayes is scheduled to appear for an initial hearing on a murder charge today in Marion Superior Court.

Hayes, 42, is accused of gunning down her boyfriend, Gary Branch, on Sept. 5. She claimed self-defense, but prosecutors do not believe her.

Hayes, according to court documents, shot Branch, 38, two times in the back as he was trying to open the garage door and escape.

Hayes told police she had been a victim of ongoing abuse and she lived in fear of Branch. She and Branch both carry handguns, according to records. Hayes told investigators Branch was going to shoot her and was reaching for his gun -- stashed under a pillow -- when she shot him first.

Hayes said she was still in fear when Branch ran past her into the garage. She admitted shooting him twice in the back while he was lifting the garage door, according to records.

Branch opened the door, ran into the street and collapsed.

Police previously responded to reports of Branch's violent behavior, but he had never been arrested on a domestic battery charge.