INDIANAPOLIS — Three people convicted of a crime spree that ended in the death of former Indiana University football player Chris Beaty in 2020 will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Marion Superior Court Judge Shatrese Flowers on Wednesday sentenced Marcus Jayon Anderson and Alijah Jones to 162 years in prison for a string of robberies and Beaty's murder during the downtown riots on May 30, 2020.
The judge also sentenced Nakeyah Shields to 108 years in prison for her role in the crimes.
Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Anne Frangos said the three used the riots, looting and police tear gas as cover during their 15-minute robbery spree that left nine people as victims, including Bailey.
"They were not subject to the mayhem and chaos. They were the mayhem and chaos," Frangos said. "They took advantage of the situation going on downtown that night."
The jury heard four days of testimony and deliberated for about 10 hoursbefore the guilty verdicts were announced shortly before 3 a.m. on May 25. Anderson, Jones and Shields were each convicted of murder and multiple counts of robbery.
Beaty was a business owner, former IU football player and Cathedral High School graduate. His family used money raised after his death to create scholarships in his name at both schools.
His loved ones are dealing with another loss after Chris Beaty's mother Debra Cooper died on Saturday. Judge Flowers honored her memory with a moment of silence in court Wednesday.
Joshua Moore, Beaty's friend since college, testified that Cooper was never the same after she viewed her son's bloody and damaged body in crime scene photos shown at the trial.
"It’s sad because honestly when I look at all of you guys I see myself, I see potential," Moore said. "But you decided to be hoodlums."
Beaty, 38, was shot to death outside his apartment building near Talbot and Vermont streets when prosecutors say he interrupted the robbers attacking other victims.
Prosecutors used social media messages and surveillance video to link the suspects to the crimes. Security cameras captured them as they moved through a three-block area, robbed eight victims and killed Beaty.
Dorian Murrell was with the suspects that night, but he was shot to death just hours after Beaty died.
Murrell died near Market and Pennsylvania streets about 2:30 a.m. May 31, 2020.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Detective Stephen Smalley testified during the trial that if Murrell had lived, he would have faced the same murder and robbery charges as the others.
Tyler Newby was convicted of criminal recklessness in Murrell's death. In November, Newby was sentenced to a year of home detention.
Rhonda Cooper, Chris Beaty’s sister, said the family is still coping with grief while they are planning her mother's funeral.
She said she doesn't want any hate in her heart, adding she's sad for the people who killed her brother and the families on their side who love them.
There are no winners in this case, she said.
“I don't think it's justice for anyone," Cooper said. "You know we lost out people-wise. Their children are losing. Their family is losing. Our family lost. So there really is never any justice. It's just a loss.”
More: Jury finds 3 guilty of killing former IU football player in 2020| Trial underway for 3 accused of killing former IU football player during the 2020 Downtown riots | Tyler Newby sentenced to home detention for killing man during the 2020 Downtown riots | Tyler Newby convicted of reckless homicide for killing man during the 2020 Downtown riots| IMPD: Arrest made in downtown weekend murder| Man charged with Chris Beaty killing in downtown Indianapolis | Two more people charged in connection with 2020 murder of Chris Beaty | Mother of Chris Beaty files wrongful death lawsuit against City of Indianapolis, IMPD
Contact WRTV reporter Vic Ryckaert at victor.ryckaert@wrtv.com or on Twitter: @vicryc.
