Share and Follow
A recent graduate from Indiana University’s esteemed Kelley School of Business met a tragic end in downtown Indianapolis, where he was fatally shot in a parking garage. Brett Scrogham, who was only 23, was en route to join his parents for a baseball game when the incident occurred.
According to Fox 59, the shooting took place near the Indiana Convention Center on Thursday night. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Scrogham succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and observed a man fleeing the scene, yet authorities have not apprehended a suspect. The investigation remains active as police work to piece together the events leading up to this senseless act.
Scrogham had recently celebrated a significant academic achievement, graduating in May as one of the top 100 students from the prestigious business program. His untimely death has left a community in mourning, as family and friends grapple with the loss of a promising young life.
Scrogham had just graduated in May as a top-100 student from Indiana University’s prestigious Kelley School of Business.
He was on his way to meet his parents to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate team, the Indianapolis Indians, when he was killed, Fox 59 reported.
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.”