Make wishtv.com your home page

Family say man shot while driving with grandson was a victim of mistaken identity

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The family of a man, who crashed his car after being shot in the head on the east side of Indianapolis, said he was a victim of mistaken identity.

“That’s the saddest thing about it all,” said George Lee, the victim’s brother. “They were out to get someone but it wasn’t my brother.”

Police identified the victim as Leroy Lee, 64. It happened at Kitley Avenue and Meadowlark Drive Thursday night, less than ten minutes away from the victim’s home.

“As far as I know nobody on this planet wanted to hurt Leroy, nobody,” said Lee.

Lee said his brother had just left the house with his four-year-old grandson. They were on their way to pick up the boy’s sister from softball when someone started shooting at their car.

“Knowing my brother, I know the last thing he probably spoke out loud to God for help and I believe that with all my heart, he was content with protecting his grandson,” he said.

Lee described his brother as a man of faith, a proud father and grandpa, who got along with everyone and would do anything for his daughters and grandchildren.

“He had three daughters and when he started having grandsons, he lit up like a Christmas tree,” said another brother.

Lee is struggling to cope with the loss of his older brother. He was too emotional and didn’t want to show his face on camera.

“We really are taking this hard because we love Leroy with all our heart and it don’t make sense that he died the way he did makes no sense at all none,” he said.

Officers patrolling the area heard multiple gun shots and noticed a car speeding down on Meadowlark Drive that night.

It blew through a stop sign, plowed through a fence before crashing into the edge of a home. Police said people were inside, but no one was hurt.

Police said the crime scene spanned two blocks with 29 markers for shell casings. The stray bullets hitting at least two homes.

“It’s hard. It’s very hard because the fact that we know that he shouldn’t have died,” said Lee. “The way he did, he didn’t deserve that. Nobody deserves that.”

Inside the car, officers found Lee with a gunshot wound to the head and his grandson covered in blood.

“Leroy left here being a man. He could have done anything in the world, but he decided with his last breath of his last effort to take care of his grandson and protect his grandson,” he said.

Lee is hoping the person responsible would do the right thing by turning themselves in.

“Whoever did this to my brother, you hurt a family a very close family. You hurt us bad and I don’t wish nothing bad on you,” he said. “But I want you to know, if you have any heart at all, you really have taken a jewel from us that we can’t replace.”

Police have not released any information about a suspect or a motive. Police said detectives are following up on several leads.