A group of family and community members gathered in Monument Circle Saturday afternoon demanding answers months after the fatal shooting of Dorian Murrell.
Many of the almost 30 participants wore shirts with Murrell's face on them and phrases such as "Black Lives Matter" and "#StandForJusticeForDorianMurrell." The group stood together holding signs that read "Justice for Dorian" before saying a prayer near where Murrell was shot and marching to University Park.
"Presence is power," said Dennell Howard, pastor of the Hovey Street Church of Christ and spokesperson at the demonstration.
Howard said the group came together to demand answers from city officials and continue to raise awareness for Murrell's death.
While he said the family was not willing to speak with the press because they are concerned for their lives and what could happen if they speak out too much, they wanted to hold a demonstration to make sure that Murrell's life and death is not forgotten.
Once the group had reached University Park, Murrell's mother Shavon Mathis, who wore a shirt that read "RIP Son" on the front and "Momma loves you" on the back, thanked the group for showing their support.
Dorian Murrell's Death
Murrell was one of five people suspected of robbing a woman at gunpoint on May 30, during the second consecutive night of riots in downtown Indianapolis, in a parking garage on East Vermont Street, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Police said the suspects were captured on surveillance cameras robbing a woman and then walking a two-block square around East Michigan, East New York, North Pennsylvania and North Delaware streets from 11:20 to 11:44 p.m.
Police said the suspects were a block away one minute before former IU football player Chris Beaty was shot and killed.
Records made public so far have no clues as to where the robbery suspects were over the next two hours and 15 minutes, but police said Murrell was shot to death around 2 a.m. May 31 at Pennsylvania and Market streets.
Shortly after, court documents state, 30-year-old Tyler Newby turned himself in to a Marion County Sheriff's Office reserve deputy saying, "I don't know who I need to tell, but I just shot somebody."
Newby told police that a group of men surrounded him and a friend while they were walking downtown, according to the probable cause affidavit. He said that, after he was pushed to the ground, he feared that a man standing over him would punch him, so he pulled his gun and fired a shot, which struck Murrell in the heart.
He also told investigators that Murrell never said anything and never threw a punch.
Newby's lawyer claims shooting Murrel was an act of self-defense and, while he awaits trial, Newby was granted a $250,000 bond.
Murder defendants are typically held without bond in the Marion County Jail while they await trial, but a spokesperson for Prosecutor Ryan Mears said Superior Judge Barbara Crawford set Newby's bond on Aug. 10 "due to exceptional circumstances."
No further information on what those circumstances were was offered.
Hoping for transparency, change
Mmoja Ajabu, a participant in the demonstration Saturday, said the lack of disclosure on what "exceptional circumstances" made Newby eligible for bail is concerning.
He added that he believes there is video footage of Murrell's death because of a video camera by an ATM close to where Murrell was shot and its important that the video is disclosed to paint a full picture of what happened that night.
"I feel that justice has not prevailed," Ajabu said. "You tell me and you tell the community that there were exceptional circumstances that he was released under, but you don't share them with us? At least share with the family. Where is the justice in that?"
Ajabu and Howard said they believe Murrell's death would have been handled differently had he been white and Newby would have been treated differently had he been Black.
Howard said the way Murrell's death has been handled reveals how racism and white privilege stand in the way of justice. He said that he and other demonstrators want to convey the pain and despair that is felt in these situations and hopes that these feelings will not have to erupt in the city again.
Newby is scheduled to be tried on charges of Murrell's death Sept. 21 and Howard said the family will continue to demand answers until they receive them.
IndyStar reporters Vic Ryckaert and Justin Mack contributed to this story.
Contact IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Brooke Kemp at bkemp@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @brookemkemp.
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