On the early morning of May 20, 2017, 66-year-old Oluwadayo Epenusi was found critically injured at Lions Gate Apartments on Indianapolis’s west side near West 10th Street and Interstate 465 after residents heard a burst of gunfire just after midnight. Witnesses say what began as a robbery attempt turned deadly when Epenusi refused to relinquish a purse-like bag; he was shot multiple times, managed to return to his apartment, and was taken to Eskenazi Hospital where he died shortly after arrival.

Friends described Epenusi as a pastor who had immigrated from Nigeria and worked to bring his children to the U.S.; a close friend, Moshood Kafaru, said Epenusi’s refusal to give up the bag reflected his protective nature. Investigators canvassed the area and interviewed witnesses, but the lack of surveillance footage and darkness limited immediate leads. No arrests or suspect descriptions have been released and the homicide remains unsolved.

If anyone has information about the shooting, please contact Crime Stoppers.