INDIANAPOLIS — A suspect has been arrested in the deadly shooting of a Lucas Oil Stadium worker Monday night in downtown Indianapolis, IMPD said Wednesday.
IMPD arrested 25-year-old Elijah Hayes for murder. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decisions.
Officers responded shortly before 9:45 p.m. on March 6 to 500 S. Capitol Ave., near the northeast corner of the stadium. Police found 35-year-old Donnie Lee Sanders, who had been shot, down on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives believed the suspect went to the Indiana Convention Center, which was placed on lockdown by security and staff. Employees and occupants were also advised to shelter in place, IMPD said.
IMPD officers and K-9s, as well as members of IMPD's SWAT team, Emergency Response Group and Aviation team, were called to help secure the perimeter around the convention center.
Shortly before midnight, police said the convention center security staff reviewed surveillance video and saw the suspect leave the facility but did not re-enter the building.
The shelter-in-place directive was lifted, and officers reopened the streets surrounding the convention center.
"We're going to stay Donnie strong."
"We're making it by the grace of God. It's hard," said Precious Miller, mother of Donnie Lee Sanders.
Miller and her family are staying close Tuesday, brought together after the tragic loss of her son.
"He was my handsome son. He was a good worker, a hard worker, a prankster, a joker. He was just a lot of fun," Miller said. "We're going to miss him."
Miller said her son was just 35 years old and a father himself. She said Donnie loved working at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was a job he wouldn't come home from after being gunned down Monday night.
"It's a tragedy," Miller said. "To get a knock at the door at like 2:30 in the morning from someone coming to tell you your son is dead."
Sanders' co-worker tells 13News they were working inside, working to set up for a motocross event on Monday evening. IMPD reported it was around 10 p.m. when Sanders was shot and killed outside of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Police say the suspect then ran into the Indiana Convention Center nearby, sending the building into a lockdown. The suspected shooter soon left.
Overnight, police continued their search for the shooter into Tuesday. IMPD this afternoon reported detectives continue to make strides in the case.
Miller said she and her family want answers about who killed her son and why. They're hopeful justice will be served.
“I just know he’s a coward because he shot my son and didn’t give him a chance to go back to work," Miller said. "I hope they find him. He's going to pay. The Lord's going to make sure of that."
Miller said the family also wants answers from Lucas Oil Stadium about their security for screening workers coming in and out and how something like this could have happened.
Tuesday night, Miller said she's grateful to have her family around her, supporting her as they remember her son.
"We're here for each other and for Donnie. We're going to stay Donnie strong," she said.
Shante Wims, Donnie Lee Sanders's sister, sent a statement to 13News:
"I love my big brother so much. I'm going to miss all the jokes, his voice, his laugh, his presence in all. This is truly a hard time for me and my family. I ask for prayers at the time. And just, turn yourself in. It's not worth it to run and hide because the consequences you made to take his life, you should be man enough to turn yourself in and do your time."