Family, friends remember youth football coach killed in alleged road rage shooting near I-65

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s onerous to place into phrases what an individual means to their group.

Richard Donnell Hamilton was killed by an alleged highway rage shooter Wednesday night whereas exiting I-65 at County Line Highway.

His cousin, Damon Lee, and their good friend Darryl Smith Sr. say Hamilton’s demise is a serious loss to the group he served.

Not solely was Hamilton they have been standing by the 43-year-old for so long as they may bear in mind.

“12 months after 12 months he coached intercity youth,” Lee stated about his cousin. “Every part he knew about soccer he taught.”

“I’m the person I’m the coach I’m at the moment due to him,” Smith stated.

Hamilton based the Indy Youth Steelers, a youth soccer crew. He additionally helped begin the Tarkington Teen Work Crew, which is a program out of the MLK Heart that empowers youth to develop into leaders.

“Nell’s legacy could be ‘you are able to do it with nothing,” Lee stated. “He ran a soccer crew with none grant cash.”

Now his soccer crew, his coaches and his group try to maneuver ahead with out the person they referred to as their chief.

“This turned form of the house of the Indy Steelers – the place their fiscal agent for grants they’d get – we’d assist them get new uniforms – he and I are rather a lot like within the sense – when you needed to play, we’d work out a means,” MLK Heart Government Director Allison Luthe instructed WRTV.

Indiana State Police say Hamilton was shot and killed Wednesday evening whereas driving within the passenger seat of a white van in Greenwood.

State Police say the taking pictures occurred close to I-65 and County Line Highway. Troopers consider their van was focused by somebody in one other automobile as they exited the interstate onto County Line Highway.

Detectives consider the taking pictures was associated to highway rage. They’re at the moment trying to find a silver or grey sedan model automotive with darkish tinted home windows. No suspects have been recognized.

Smith

“To be taken away from us by such a violent means – a mindless means – particularly how onerous we fought to maintain the youngsters away from violence and off the streets,” Smith Sr.

Now the Butler-Tarkington group should put collectively the items of how misplaced a person they are saying mentored so many.

“Nell simply gave again as a result of he had a present to offer and he did it naturally and he didn’t anticipate nothing in return,” Household good friend Anthoney Hampton stated.

Hamilton and his youth soccer crew bought information this week that their area will bear enhancements by way of a Lilly Endowment grant.