A recent graduate from Indiana University’s business school tragically lost his life in a shooting at a downtown Indianapolis parking garage while en route to join his parents at a baseball game.
Brett Scrogham, 23, succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained near the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday night, as reported by Fox 59.
Despite being swiftly transported to the hospital, he unfortunately did not survive his injuries.
A witness reported hearing gunfire and observed a man fleeing the scene, but as of now, police have not apprehended any suspects, and the investigation is still underway.
Scrogham had recently completed his studies in May, graduating as one of the top 100 students from Indiana University’s esteemed Kelley School of Business.
At the time of the incident, he was on his way to meet his parents to watch the Indianapolis Indians, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, as noted by Fox 59.
In the wake of his murder, friends and family have poured out tributes to the 23-year-old and shared the impact he had on those around him.
Close family friend Dwayne Sawyer, who said the two families bonded through the Christian Communicators of America speech and debate league, recalled Scrogham’s brilliance before his life was cut short.
“He was about to change the world. I truly, truly, mean that. Brett was that spark; he had that x-factor, if you will,” Sawyer told WRTV.
“Not only was he intelligent, articulate, young Christian man, he just had that something special still within him that I knew, we all knew, he was destined for greatness.”
Scrogham’s death reverberated all the way to Washington on Tuesday, where Indiana Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) honored the 23-year-old on the Senate floor.
Banks said friends described Scrogham as “a God-fearing Christian man” who was always willing to help people.
“Though I never had the chance to meet him, it’s clear to me that Brett was really an incredible person. And now I’ll never get the chance to meet this bright young man,” Banks said.
Banks then blasted Indianapolis officials for soft-on-crime policies he says have allowed violent crime to run rampant, taking particular aim at Mayor Hogsett.
“The Mayor of Indianapolis put out a weak statement that didn’t even mention Brett’s name, and so I wanted to come down to the floor and talk about who he was and what’s happening in Indianapolis,” the Senator said.
“Brett’s murder is the second murder in downtown Indianapolis in less than a week. Just before the Indy 500, Gregory Anderson, a father of five children, was murdered in the downtown bar district in Indianapolis. And then last Sunday, a 16-year-old teenager was murdered in the Northwest Side of Indy.”
Banks also accused Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears of refusing to prosecute violent criminals.
“Ryan Mears is a prosecutor gone rogue. He refuses to keep violent criminals behind bars and is an absolute failure of a prosecutor,” he said.
“If we keep making excuses for why we can’t enforce the law and keep violent criminals in prison, we will never have safe neighborhoods and communities — and innocent people like Brett will continue to pay the price.”
