Connect with us

Indianapolis, IN

Olivia Brown and Darian Wiley, killed in double shooting, remembered as positive forces

Published

on

Olivia Brown and Darian Wiley, killed in double shooting, remembered as positive forces


play

After crossing paths at Ball State University and striking a friendship, Olivia Brown and Darian Wiley both found success in their post-graduate lives.  

Advertisement

Brown, 24, earned her Master’s degree and began a longtime goal of a fitness regimen.  

Wiley, 27, had a few years under his belt in construction management. Unbeknownst to him, he was days away from receiving a mentorship award.  

The pair was out to dinner Friday, their friends say, and had returned to a north Indianapolis neighborhood when their lives were taken. Both Brown and Wiley were fatally shot, near East 21st and Ruckle streets.  

No arrest has been announced in the shooting.  

Friends of the duo are now reeling from the killings. Senseless, random and tragic are how they describe what happened to the two young individuals, both said to be positive forces to those around them.  

Advertisement

It’s hoped Brown and Wiley are remembered as such, while also justice is brought in the case.  

Brown’s kindness and confidence were best things about her, friend says

Chase Leslie remembers her friendship with Brown started shortly after Brown’s family moved to Columbus and she became the “new girl” at school.  

They struck up a friendship after being placed in the same class in about fifth grade. The friendship blossomed from there in the form of sleepovers, car rides and watching sunsets at the small lake behind Brown’s house.  

Advertisement

Brown had a unique confidence about her, Leslie remembers, one that wasn’t bogged down by insecurities typical of a teenager, Leslie remembers.  

“I think her mom really put that into her, that it’s OK to be who you are and love yourself,” Leslie said.   

The friends chose universities far away from each other after high school – Brown, Ball State; Leslie, Western Kentucky University. Leslie said they continued to call and stay up-to-date on each other’s social media, especially after Brown moved to the Indianapolis area.  

When she saw the texts Saturday morning from their mutual high school friends informing her of Brown’s death, Leslie was shocked.  

“I feel like I’m still processing it,” she said. Leslie said she finds solace seeing the numerous posts on social media sharing how Brown’s kindness and positivity impacted their lives.  

Advertisement

“I’m really happy that other people got to experience that,” she said.  

Many of the same traits are being said about Wiley 

Longtime mentor: Wiley was shining example of program

The last time Adrian Russell spoke to Wiley, a longtime mentee of his, the pair had a familiar exchange.  

Wiley called Thursday seeking advice from Russell about a construction project he was working on. Having met in 2014 through the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program, the two men often had these conversations.  

Advertisement

The fatal shooting happened the next day.  

Wiley’s death has left Russell and the program reeling from the loss. Wiley was one of the program’s shining examples.  

“He was just willing to give the three T’s: Time, talent and treasure,” Russell said.  

Wiley joined the ACE program as a student at Arsenal Tech High School in 2014, when he met Russell, his mentor.  

“I just fell in love with him from day one,” Russell said. He said Wiley stood out because of his drive to succeed in the future, his outgoing personality and his intelligence.  

Advertisement

Wiley went on to Ball State, where he studied construction management. Aside from his career passions, he also was an avid golfer and loved cars.  

But he never forgot his roots, Russell said. Wiley returned to Arsenal Tech High School and became an ACE mentor. At one point, the program was on the brink of going away. Russell said Wiley was instrumental in saving the program by recruiting students and sharing his experience in the professional industry.  

Attendance in the program spiked after that, Russell said, helping salvage the program.

On Tuesday, Wiley was slated to receive the Mentor of the Year award at Arsenal Tech, according to Russell.  

Now, the program’s board is searching for other ways to honor one of their own. At the same time, Russell said he’s coordinating with community groups to discuss how to keep the neighborhood safe in light of Brown and Wiley’s killings.  

Advertisement

“His life was taken tragically through no fault of his own,” he said. “That’s where I’m passionate about making sure the justice of his story is delivered.”  

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Colten Smith at 317-327-3475 or colten.smith@indy.gov.

Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Indianapolis, IN

A Yard Of One’s Own – Indianapolis Monthly

Published

on

A Yard Of One’s Own – Indianapolis Monthly


Credit: Angela Jackson/Indianapolis Monthly

REALTOR Summer Hudson was always waiting for the perfect midcentury modern home to hit the market and lure her away from her beloved Irvington. On Hudson’s popular TikTok channel, Find a Lot to Love, she cooed over original 1960s woodwork and intact bathrooms for the 207,000 followers who enjoyed watching her walk through houses for sale in Central Indiana. But the eXp Realty agent’s own family needed a yard for their 5-year-old daughter more than she needed a pristine Avriel Shull A-frame, so she gave her husband, Ryan Sloan, one criterion: Find a house with the exact same layout as their 3,000-square-foot Irvington ranch, plus a yard, and she’d move.

Lo and behold, he did, in Crows Nest. The three-bed, two-bath house has a circular layout with semi–open concept living, dining, and kitchen spaces and, as a bonus, a pool on the half-acre lot. “I always said I’d never turn down a pool,” Hudson says. The home had been sitting on the market for a while because, in Hudson’s opinion, the listing for 1,800 square feet was misleading; the homeowners couldn’t include the 1,200-square-foot finished attic because the ceiling was too low. Additionally, the photos didn’t do the home justice. “From the outside, it looks tiny and bungalow-ish, but you don’t realize how deep it goes,” she says, adding that the images didn’t showcase the layout’s attractive flow, either. The couple got it under list price for $410,000, and Hudson, who uses the attic as her office, has no regrets—her dream midcentury home can wait. Downsizing forced the couple to purge, and they discovered the joys of a simplified lifestyle. “I’m actually spending more time with my kid out- side. That has been the most amazing part of all of this,” Hudson says.

FAVORITE FEATURE
The nature-filled backyard

PURCHASE DATE
March 2024

Advertisement

NEIGHBORHOOD
Crows Nest

SQUARE FOOTAGE
1,800





Source link

Continue Reading

Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis man sentenced to 110 years for 2021 double homicide

Published

on

Indianapolis man sentenced to 110 years for 2021 double homicide


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 110 years in prison for his role in a north side shooting that resulted in the death of two men during a $20 marijuana deal in 2021.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced the sentencing of 21-year-old Camran Perry on Thursday, following a jury’s verdict after a two-day trial. In July, Perry was found guilty of two counts of murder and carrying a handgun without a license, a release said.

Andrew Jones, 21, and Blake Coffman, 20, died in a shooting about 6:45 p.m. Dec. 1, 2021, in the 8800 block of Westfield Way at the 9000 Westfield apartments. That’s just southeast of the intersection of East 91st Street and Westfield Boulevard.

Investigators interviewed a witness who reported hearing “three loud thumps” and seeing a man in a gray sweatsuit standing behind the victims’ vehicle before fleeing the scene. The witness, along with others, then approached the vehicle and called the police.

Advertisement

Two cellphones were recovered at the scene. Investigators obtained warrants for the phones, one of which belonged to Coffman.

According to a release, on Coffman’s phone, which was logged into his personal Instagram account, investigators found video chats and private messages indicating his intention to meet someone at the location of the shooting. The other user of this account deleted their account just hours after the incident. Digital forensics teams traced this account back to Perry.

Perry was taken into custody on Jan. 10. Initially, he denied knowing either of the victims, but later confessed to meeting up with them to make a purchase. Perry later admitted to engaging in a verbal altercation with Coffman and Jones, before shooting both men, police say.

Prosecutor Ryan Mears issued the following statement after the conviction:

“Young people having easy access to firearms leads to them making poor, split-second decisions that result in senseless deaths and tragedy,” stated Prosecutor Mears. “It is incumbent upon us to continue to empower young people with the tools to be mindful of the long-term consequences of gun violence in order to avoid tragedies like this.”

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Indianapolis, IN

Indy promoter hopes education leads to a safer Indianapolis

Published

on

Indy promoter hopes education leads to a safer Indianapolis


INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis event promoter Teddrick Hardy is disappointed that violence has become prevalent in the Circle City.

“It’s very frustrating because I’m going to like my eleventh year in promoting and myself, alongside other promoters, put a lot of work in having successful, safe and joyful events,” Hardy said.

WRTV

Over the past couple of months, WRTV has reported on numerous parties and gatherings that have been held illegally or without proper permits.

Advertisement

In some cases, these events have ended in violence.

crime scene5.jpg

WRTV

“Our goal is to gather groups of people to come and see these establishments to spend money, to bring their friends out to celebrate,” Hardy explained.

Now, promoters like Hardy are learning from various Indianapolis government agencies to ensure events can continue in a safe manner.

safety2.jpg

WRTV

Advertisement

On Wednesday, these agencies hosted an ask the officials event aimed at answering promoters questions on how to properly organize and operate events.

“We all want safe events,” IMPD Deputy Chief Kendale Adams said. “We all want people to come and have a good time. It’s a part of what I did when I was young, and it’s important that we educate promoters on what that looks like.”

safety.jpg

WRTV

Hardy is hopeful the event will lead to safer events being held in Indianapolis.

“I want to see Indianapolis become a better place,” he said.

Advertisement
indy.jpg

WRTV

The full Ask the Officials meeting can be viewed here.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending