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Man at vigil for hit-and-run victim helps identify suspect

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On March 23, a crowd gathered near Post Road and East 38th Street for vigil in honor of Maurice Hamler.

“Our brother was an avid motorcycle rider. He was passionate about riding bikes,” said Juan Mosley, Hamler’s friend.

The 32-year-old died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver. During the vigil, a man approached the crowd and told those in the group he had information on who had struck Hamler.

He gave the crowd a description of the vehicle, a possible suspect and he led the crowd to the suspect’s house, which was a less than a block away. Once there, the crowd stood in front of the house, while Juan Mosley knocked on the suspect’s door.

No one answered the door, but minutes later police arrived to the scene. Someone inside the suspect’s home called police because of the large crowd outside. Police were told by those on the scene that a possible suspect was inside.

The day of the crash, police collected pieces of the suspect’s vehicle from the scene. The items revealed the vehicle in question fit the description of a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Investigators later found a dark Mitsubishi Lancer with damage to the driver’s side door inside a garage. Police later identified the suspect as 55-year-old Jesus Cardenas. It’s believed he left and went to Chicago.

Despite not having Cardenas in custody, Mosley is glad someone said what happened.

“We never would have knew,” said Mosley.

Anyone with information about the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).  All information shared with Crime Stoppers is considered anonymous.

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