Nearly three years to the day, there is finally some measure of justice.
Three people have been convicted by a jury in connection with the 2020 fatal shooting of former IU football player Chris Beaty.
Beaty was shot and killed on May 30, 2020 as he walked through an alley near his apartment building during a wave of violence and riots in Indianapolis. He died while rushing to the aid of two women who were being robbed, and also sent text messages checking on his neighbors moments before the incident.
He was only 38 years old.
Marcus Anderson, Alijah Jones and Nakeyah Shields were found guilty of murder and multiple counts of armed robbery, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Friday.
“Chris tragically lost his life while caring for others and his city,” Mears said. “His death was felt by many throughout Indianapolis, Bloomington, and beyond. In a time of unrest and doubt, his legacy inspired many to live each day to the fullest, look out for others, and to do the right thing.”
Indiana University announced in 2021 the establishment of a new endowed football scholarship and a new annual team award in honor of Beaty.
At the same time, IU Football Coach Tom Allen announced that the team’s annual Walk-On Award was renamed the Chris Beaty Outstanding Walk-On award.
“Chris Beaty loved Indiana, loved Indiana Football, and loved people. He was a very caring, selfless, and passionate person. I have said it before and I will say it again, Chris lived out LEO. His support was unwavering. Chris will always be a special person to our program and to the University,” Allen said in 2021.
Affectionately known as “Mr. Indianapolis”, Beaty was an active and beloved member of the Indianapolis community. It was there that he starred as a high school football at Cathedral High School in the late 1990s, which paved the way for him to join Coach Cam Cameron’s Hoosier team in the fall of 2000 as a walk-on.
After spending his first season with Cameron, he played his final three seasons for Hoosier Coach Gerry DiNardo. Following his playing days, Chris remained loyal and actively engaged with Indiana Football as an alumni regularly attending games and events.
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