Family Remembers Avery Neal, Victim of Indianapolis Hit-and-Run

INDIANAPOLIS — Avery Devon Neal’s family has been through tragedy before, only on the surviving end that time. Neal was one of the survivors of the 2021 mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, walking away shaken but unharmed.

More than four years later, his family is now figuring out what to say in the aftermath of a hit-and-run that ended his life Saturday.

But ask them to describe him and the words keep flowing: hilarious, fun, mindful and as the second youngest of four, he was of course, mischievous.

“Obviously, we’re all in shock, we’re very much in shock,” said Neal’s older brother, Darren Meyers. “Not really knowing how to be in this moment right now.”

Metro Police say officers found Neal’s body in the intersection of Michigan and Cooper roads on the northwest side of Indianapolis just before midnight Sunday.

The Marion County coroner ruled Neal died from being hit by a car. IMPD says the driver fled the scene and detectives are investigating the crash.

By Monday afternoon, police had not yet provided a suspect or vehicle description.

Neal’s family says he was heading to his mother’s house and just got off the bus.

“He was coming here, coming home,” Meyers said. “He was getting off the bus coming home.”

Meyers said a good Samaritan stopped in traffic after seeing Neal lying in the road, using their car to block traffic. 

“It’s not worth it, taking someone else’s life because you’re trying to get to a destination,” said his aunt, Regina.

Neal graduated from North Central High School and was strong mentally and physically, too, running a marathon and other races. The Turkey Trot was a yearly tradition for him, one they said they will run for him next month.

“We really loved Avery. He had a lot of life in front of him,” Meyers said.

Saturday’s hit-and-run marks the 10th in Indianapolis this year, according to numbers by Safe Streets Indy. Twenty-five pedestrians have been killed since Jan. 1, including three in October alone, now more than last month’s total.

“We’re kind of moving in the wrong direction here in the last half of the year, but at the same time, we are still seeing a decrease.” Safe Streets founder Eric Holt said. “Those first few minutes after someone is hit could be the difference between life and death. It’s really imperative for the driver to stop and make sure that the person that you’ve hit gets the care that they need.”