On the morning of April 4, 2020, 21-year-old Dejure Taylor was fatally shot during a brief, violent encounter at the Motor 8 Inn on Indianapolis’ east side. Taylor and another man, Robert Edwards, were approached by three individuals; two of them drew firearms and began firing. Taylor was struck more than ten times and died at the scene. Edwards was seriously wounded but survived.

Motel surveillance captured the confrontation and the shooting. Investigators say footage showed Dwayne Pope Jr. among the assailants and tracked him leaving in a silver Nissan registered to his girlfriend. Police found the vehicle at a nearby hotel where Pope was staying; clothing matching the shooter’s outfit was recovered from his room and three bullets matching the motel shell casings were found in the car.

After a three-day jury trial in January 2023, Dwayne Pope Jr. was convicted of murder in Taylor’s death, attempted murder for the attack on Edwards, aggravated battery, and carrying a handgun without a license, and was sentenced in February 2023. Does anyone have information about Dejure Taylor, his movements that night, or the people involved?