INDIANAPOLIS — A community came together Thursday to remember a popular youth football coach killed one year ago in an apparent road rage shooting.
Family and friends released lanterns in honor of "Coach Nell." Richard Donnell Hamilton coached the Indy Steelers youth football team.
His life ended one year ago when someone shot him on Interstate 65 near Greenwood. The case remains unsolved.
"I think of my son every day," said Donna Hamilton, Coach Nell's mother. "We're not going away until someone is accountable."
Indiana State Police believes the shooter was in a newer silver Mazda sedan or similar model with heavily-tinted windows.
"Just because we haven't knocked on your door or just because you haven't been interviewed does not take you off the hook," ISP Det. Aaron Allen said.
Remembering Richard Donnell Hamilton
Those who knew and loved Coach Nell want the shooter arrested. They also want people to remember the 43-year-old who impacted so many people on and off the field.
"He loved football. He loved his family. He loved his kids. And he loved his mom, for sure," Donna said.
"He was a leader, a man of pride, a man of his word. He was a fighter. He was everything," said Aaron Hamilton, Coach Nell's cousin.
Hamilton’s wife, Tiffany, was inside the van the night of the shooting. She is begging for the person responsible to come forward.
“My world has stopped, and everyone else’s is going on. No one deserves this. No one deserves to watch someone they love die in front of them,” Tiffany said. “Our family is hurt. Our family is broken, and I don’t know how we are going to heal from this because we hurt every day ... and I watch him die every day.”
Last year, ISP responded to more than 50 interstate shootings in Indianapolis and more than 200 other cases where someone pointed or pulled out a gun. Hamilton’s family said those numbers are tough to hear.
“It could’ve been me. It could’ve been both of us. It’s hurtful. I don’t know what could even bring you to that level of anger,” Tiffany said.
The family is focused on getting justice and also keeping Coach Nell’s legacy alive on and off the field.
“His name will live forever. He will live forever,” Tiffany said.
In March 2023, Indy Parks renamed a multi-purpose field at Tarkington Park the "Richard 'Coach Nell' Hamilton Field."
Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to contact Indiana State Police at 317-899-8577 or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS.