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

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

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 21^st 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.  

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.  

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.  

“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.  

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.  

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.  

“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