While Jonathan Macklin's family gets set to lay him to rest tomorrow in Chicago, where he's originally from, his friends in Indianapolis held a vigil on Pendleton Pike where he died to pray for justice.
Those who knew and loved 25-year-old Jonathan Macklin had a message for the person responsible for his death.
"We forgive you. We just want you to come forward so the family can have peace," said a speaker at a vigil held Thursday near where Macklin was hit Mother's Day night.
Macklin, whose friends called him "J-Mac",
while riding his motorcycle on Pendleton Pike.
Police released surveillance video that shows a white SUV involved. The video shows what investigators believe is a white Chevy Suburban pulling into Macklin's path and hitting him, but not stopping.
Macklin's friends prayed for the driver behind the wheel.
"He is somewhere afraid. He knows what he has done and he needs God's grace to bring him to the place where he does the right thing," said one local pastor, praying.
The right thing, said those gathered, is to accept responsibility for this tragedy.
"If that person does not come forward, if we don't continue to work together to bring about justice so this sort of thing doesn't happen, that would be a greater tragedy," said one speaker.
"Somebody has to know something," said biker Juan Pyle.
Investigators believe the Suburban is an early 2000 model and could be a former government-issued or fleet-style vehicle.
According to police, the SUV would have rear quarter panel and taillight damage on the driver's side.
"Running from the situation will not save you. It's not gonna go away. It's gonna continue to eat at you," said Macklin's friend, Tyrelle Collins.
For those gathered, not knowing who killed their friend, is part of the pain of losing him.
"It absolutely makes it more difficult. It would be easier if the person was brought to justice," said Christopher Gunn.
For now, though, justice has been moving slowly. Macklin's friends pray it won't stay that way.
"Justice is about the right thing happening at the right time for everybody as best we can," said one pastor.
Anyone with information about Macklin's death is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 262-TIPS.
