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Family pleas for tips after deadly hit-and-run

LAWRENCE, Ind. (WISH) — A Chicago family gathered together for an interview four hours before visitation services were set to start for their only son.

“Johnathan was a great kid, I never had a problem with him,” said Wayne Sliger, Johnathan’s father.

On Mother’s Day, a hit-and-run driver ran into Johnathan Macklin as he rode his motorcycle down the 8100 block of Pendleton Pike in Lawrence.

Emergency crews would arrive, but later pronounced Macklin dead on the scene.

In the days that followed, police discovered grainy surveillance video of the devastating accident. Despite releasing video of the crash, no arrests have been made.

“If you have any inkling of someone who may have did this, please come forward,” said Jamika Macklin, Johnathan’s twin sister.

24-Hour News 8 learned more about Johnathan through his family members. The Chicago native graduated college from Clark University in Atlanta. He recently moved to Indianapolis to take a job.

“Johnathan was a very well-loved young man,” said Johnathan’s Mother Julianna Sliger.

The men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, who Johnathan did community outreach work with, is holding a prayer vigil Thursday night at the scene of the crime to ask for leads. Some of their members are scheduled to speak, as are members of the Lawrence Police Department.

“I think it is such a great honor, what they are doing. I hope everything goes well,” said Julianna Sliger.

Investigators continue to push for tips, anyone with information to share regarding this crime is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).