Police say video and witness accounts helped identify a 14-year-old suspect.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Indianapolis homicide detectives arrested a 14-year-old boy Wednesday in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Brett Scrogham, a recent Indiana University Indianapolis graduate found wounded last week in a downtown parking garage near the Indiana Convention Center.
The arrest moved the case into its next stage after nearly a week of public concern over the killing in a busy downtown area. Police said the boy was arrested for his alleged role in Scrogham’s death, while the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will decide what charges to file. Officials had not said by Thursday whether the teen was the only suspect or whether investigators believe he fired the fatal shot.
The shooting happened shortly after 6 p.m. May 28 at the Plaza Park garage in the 100 block of South Capitol Avenue, just east of the convention center. Officers found Scrogham inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died the next day. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Tanya Terry said the arrest was important but could not undo the loss. “My heart breaks for everyone impacted by this tragedy,” Terry said in a statement after the arrest.
Police said detectives reviewed surveillance video, collected evidence and spoke with witnesses before identifying the boy. A person was detained at the scene on the night of the shooting and later released, officials said earlier in the investigation. Authorities have not released a motive. They also have not publicly described any relationship between Scrogham and the teen. Investigators said they were working with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, which makes final charging decisions. Because the suspect is a juvenile, his name was not released in local reports.
Scrogham had recently graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business Indianapolis. IU confirmed he was a recent graduate, and local reports said he had been co-president of the real estate club and involved in honor societies. Loved ones said he had recently started work as a development analyst. Family friend Dwayne Sawyer said he had known Scrogham and his family for more than a decade through a speech and debate league. Sawyer described him as intelligent, faithful and driven, saying Scrogham “was about to change the world.”
The case drew attention from city and state officials because it happened downtown, near major event spaces and within walking distance of restaurants, hotels and sports venues. Mayor Joe Hogsett condemned the violence in a public statement and later said there were more steps in the court process before the suspect could be held accountable. U.S. Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana also spoke about Scrogham on the Senate floor, saying friends had described him as a young man who helped others and had a strong future ahead.
The arrest also came as Indianapolis police leaders were discussing juvenile violence. Terry said she was “frustrated and disheartened” that police believe a 14-year-old was responsible. “One young man tragically had his life cut short, and another will face lifelong consequences for his actions,” she said. Detectives credited officers, homicide investigators and the U.S. Marshals Service with helping move the case forward. Officials have not announced whether the case will remain in juvenile court or be handled through adult court procedures.
Scrogham’s death left friends and family mourning a man they said was active in his community and close to his family. Local reports said he was headed downtown to meet relatives for an Indianapolis Indians baseball game when he was shot. Sawyer said Scrogham came from a family known for giving to others, and that many people were trying to comfort them after the killing. Police have said the investigation remains active, even after the arrest.
As of Thursday, June 4, the teen was in custody and formal charging decisions were still pending. The next major step rests with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office as detectives continue to review evidence in Scrogham’s death.
Author note: Last updated June 4, 2026.