Three individuals convicted in the murder of Chris Beaty during the downtown Indianapolis riots in May 2020 will remain in prison after the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld their sentences. The decision follows legal efforts led by Attorney General Todd Rokita and his appeals team.
Attorney General Rokita stated, “We lost a beloved community member in a horrific attack in May of 2020. Although no one can prevent deadly crimes before they happen, our office works hard to keep Hoosiers and their loved ones safe from the potential subsequent actions of a wide array of wrongdoers. A big part of that work includes keeping dangerous lawbreakers off the street through our handling of criminal appeals.”
The events occurred on May 30, 2020, when protests following George Floyd’s death turned violent in downtown Indianapolis. That night, Marcus Anderson, Alijah Jones, and Nakeyah Shields committed multiple armed robberies. They first robbed a woman at gunpoint, taking her phone, wallet, and car. Shortly after, they assaulted another woman and stole her cellphone and backpack.
Chris Beaty was killed that same night after leaving his apartment near Delaware Street. He encountered Shields before being shot multiple times; his body was later found with four gunshot wounds to the back and signs of blunt force trauma.
Anderson, Jones, and Shields were found guilty of felony murder as well as several counts related to armed robbery and attempted armed robbery. Each defendant appealed their convictions and sentences—108 years for some and 164 years for others—arguing various issues regarding the validity of their trials and sentencing lengths. The Indiana Court of Appeals rejected these arguments and affirmed both the convictions and sentences.
Attorney General Rokita’s office emphasized its commitment to public safety by handling criminal appeals to ensure that those convicted remain off the streets.
