INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Hundreds of people are expected to show up to celebrate the lives of Ashlynn and Nicholas Nelson, who lost their lives at their east Indianapolis home in Post Brook Apartments.
As family, friends and even strangers say final goodbyes to Ashlynn and Nicholas Nelson, there are several community leaders are thankful for the public's financial support so far to their mother.
Among them is Dr. Wayne Moore, who serves as the president of the Missionary Baptist Minister Alliance in the Indianapolis area. He also works as a community leader calling for fairness and equity. But the shooting deaths of the young siblings hit home after he himself experienced the murder of his 16-year-old nephew in the same neighborhood.
Moore immediately put out a citywide call to help the siblings' mother financially so she would not have to return to the apartment to live where her children were shot dead.
"I think we came together to help this family as one city," Moore said. "Shamrock was the first business to come forward."
Now, Moore prays for more donations to the Antonia Bailey 5/3rd Bank account. The account is set up to help with funeral and living expenses down the road. Bailey also has a six-year-old daughter to raise and be strong for everyday. That’s one of the reasons Moore wanted help raising anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 for Bailey and her daughter.
"Whatever you have to make a sacrifice for this particular family, let's get it done. We are over 75% there. I think we can get it done. This shows we are a city of one big family," said Moore.
Metro Homicide investigators arrested a 15-year-old boy in the shooting deaths of the young siblings. The teenage suspect is in Juvenile Detention awaiting a hearing to find out if he will face charges as an adult.
Hundreds attended a vigil in the victims' honor and more are expected at the funeral to show support. It’s the kind of support funeral service organizers are not surprised to see in a case like this.
Friday evening, the family issued a statement thanking the community for their support and asked everyone attending the funeral or others who want to pay their respects to line up along 42nd Street and Post Road between 2-2:30 p.m. "to usher them to their final resting place." The siblings' burial will be a private ceremony for immediate family and friends."
"People know the family, you got friends of the kids, you got all the teachers and they all want to help," Bruce Buchanan said.
Emanual Smith, managing director at Lavenia & Summers, which is servicing the family for the funeral, has had several people and organizations drop off donation to Antonia Bailey.
"We just thank God for everyone in the community that have been able to come out and show their support and love during this tragic situation," Smith said.
Moore hopes the donations for the funeral costs and aftercare will continue to come for the Antonia Bailey 5/3rd Bank account. Bailey plans a full celebration of life of her son and daughter with even bigger plans about their lives in the future.
