INDIANAPOLIS — "He was my oldest brother," said Chris Adkins of his 62-year-old brother, Timothy Adkins, who was stabbed and killed on the south side of Indianapolis April 26.
"We are definitely still in shock," Chris said, noting that Timothy was also a father and grandfather. "It's the manner in which he died that is hitting all of us."
On April 29, the Marion County Prosecutor's Office filed a formal murder charge against 40-year-old Damon Wallace Jr., of Indianapolis.
The next day, Wallace made his first appearance in court, where he pleaded not guilty for killing Timothy.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. outside of an apartment complex in the 200 block of Stephanie Lane, near South Meridian Street and Troy Avenue. Medics pronounced Timothy dead at the scene.
"(Timothy) had some struggles with addiction, as a lot of people have, and anybody with a family member who has gone through that knows how hard that is, but nobody – including my brother – deserved what happened to him Friday night," Chris said. "His last moments, he had to be terrified ... That is the hardest part. What was he thinking when this was all happening?"
Even more disturbing, court documents show Wallace was lying on top of Timothy when police arrived.
Police said they also found a knife nearby.
"This is unlike anything we've ever gone through," Chris said. "We will rally around each other, pull each other up by the bootstraps and keep going. That's what Tim would want."
Chris hopes his brother will be remembered by his smile that could light up a room.
"That's probably the biggest thing — and his laugh," Chris said.
Timothy was also a veteran of the United States Navy.
"He was very proud of the fact that he was a Navy vet," Chris said.
Moving forward, Chris encourages more families to talk about proper conflict management to prevent further loss of life.
"If Mr. Wallace had maybe had a little bit more training in that type of situation, my brother might still be here," Chris said.
Despite that, Chris said he has no ill will toward Wallace's family.
"I don't know them, but I don't hold them responsible for the actions of what he did," Chris said.
Wallace is being held without bond at the Marion County jail. His jury trial is tentatively scheduled for July.
"If that man is in that room, I am going to be in that room, and so will all those people over there — that's a given," Chris said.