Mother of slain teen meets with FWPD’s former Police Chief
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)- A grieving mother is doing everything she can to bring her son’s killer to justice. A home surveillance video captured the moments before 14-year-old Nick Scroggins was shot and killed on Lillie Street on June 21.
Scroggins’ mother Tenille Bright released that video exclusively to 24-Hour News 8’s sister station, WANE. The video caught the attention of people across the area, including the police department’s new Director of Community Relations Garry Hamilton.
After numerous calls to the prosecutor’s office, victim’s assistance, and police department, the former Police Chief called Bright to set up a meeting and discuss her son’s case.
“It surprised me,” said Bright. “I know with a lot of what’s going on in the community some people don’t have that relationship.”
Just a week into his new role Hamilton pulled the case file and went over it with Bright Monday evening. The two discussed where the case stands and Bright’s concerns with the lack of progress. Bright believes the surveillance video should be enough evidence to bring someone in for questioning and even file charges.
The video captured Scroggins walking with another male just minutes before police arrived. Still, no arrests have been made, which has been a point of frustration for Bright.
“We need someone who we can go to within the police department,” said Bright. “Someone who we can talk to about our concerns, someone who can reach out to the prosecutors, someone who can bring us all together and try to get some of this stuff resolved.”
After meeting with the Former Chief, the Bright said she left feeling more confident than ever that her son’s case will not go cold.
“We’re going to arrest them and charge them with murder,” she said. “It’s just as simple as that.”
Bright said she will stop at nothing to get justice for her son.
“I am my son’s voice,” said Bright. “I’m going to make a lot of noise. I’m not going to sit back and allow them to tell me what they want to tell me. You’re going to tell me the truth.”
Bright said she and Hamilton are working to set up another meeting: this time with the Allen County Prosecutor Karen Richardsand the lead detective on her son’s case.