Family plans vigil for road rage victim, says ‘stop the violence’

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Friends and family of an Indianapolis man shot in the head on his motorcycle are honoring him Friday evening. They say they want to make sure this never happens to anyone else again.

Nick Norris was on his motorcycle Sunday evening when police say he was shot in the head.  Police also say it happened in an east side Indianapolis parking lot after what is described as a violent road rage encounter with another man in an SUV.

The details of what happened before the shooting aren’t clear, but officers say 41-year-old Norris died at the hospital a short time later.

Family members are holding a candlelight vigil Friday.

Family friend Jennifer Shaefer wants the whole city to show up.

“The main focus is going to be early intervention and prevention,” said Shaefer. “When a crime happens, all we can do is try to heal after that. But if we can work ahead of time to prevent the crimes, then people will be a lot better off.”

Organizers said it’s a way to begin the healing process, stressing the need to prevent violence while remembering Norris.

“Life is a lesson, it’s a blessing,” said family friend Michelle Fleming. “It’s what we make of it and a lesson we can learn is, don’t allow another person’s actions – whether they be ugly whether they be bad – don’t allow it to win. You win you and be the better man and walk away.”

The vigil starts Friday at 8 p.m. in the parking lot where the shooting happened, near east Michigan and Rural Streets.

As for the man accused of killing Norris, police arrested 24-year-old Ron Stewart on Tuesday, two days after the shooting. Stewart is facing murder charges when he heads to court Friday at 2 p.m.