U.S Sen. Jim Banks called recent violence in downtown Indianapolis indicative of “a crisis” after last week’s fatal shooting of a 23-year-old IU graduate whose killer remains at large.
The United States Senator for Indiana spoke for more than seven minutes June 1 on the Senate floor, asking elected officials to double down in efforts to enforce the law and put criminals behind bars.
Positioned behind Banks was an enlarged photograph of Brett Scrogham, who had plans to attend a baseball game with his family the night of May 28 but was shot in a downtown parking lot. He died two days later from his injuries.
“What’s happening in Indianapolis right now is a crisis,” Banks said. “Soft-on-crime policies are ruining this city. How much longer will we allow this to go on?”
Banks used part of his time to lambast city and county officials, which included Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. He accused Mears of not seeking tougher penalties for those facing felony charges.
IndyStar reached out to Mears’ office Tuesday and received no response addressing Banks directly. A spokesperson for Mears instead said their focus remained “on actively working with IMPD and the community” to help bring an arrest in Scrogham’s killing.
Banks’ stance is hardly new. It echoes previous calls by Indiana politicians wanting to reign in violent crime during similar high profile shootings. Gov. Mike Braun said he was open to the idea of state intervention for Indy last year after gun violence during the July 4 weekend left five people dead — two of them juveniles.
Who was Brett Scrogham?
Scrogham had a bright future ahead of him, Banks said.
The 23-year-old Greenwood man had recently graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, earning distinction among its top 100 undergraduates. After his death, friends expressed their deep-felt loss social media posts.
One such remembrance came from Christina Higg, 27, of Seymour, a childhood classmate who told IndyStar he was always ready to help those who needed it.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Higg participated in theater with Scrogham’s sisters for about two years, from 2015-17. She said Scrogham was “someone people could look up to.”
And not just people — pets too.
When a neighbor’s home caught fire in 2015, Scrogham — then age 12 — rushed in to save their two dogs. He later received an award from the sheriff’s office and fire department for bravery, a photo circulated on Fox59 shows.
“He was a fantastic young man from a wonderful family. His life was taken so unjustly and far, far too early,” Higg said.
What happened to Brett Scrogham?
Scrogham’s life was cut short by a bullet in downtown Indianapolis. Details from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department about Scrogham’s killing remain scant.
At 6:10 p.m. on May 28, officers arrived to the parking garage at 101 S. Capitol Ave. where they found a mortally wounded Scrogham. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
Banks called the killing a “senseless act of violence.”
Scrogham died at Methodist Hospital on Saturday, May 30, from a fatal gunshot wound to the head, according to the Marion County Coroner’s Office.
Indianapolis police ‘making meaningful progress’ in investigation of Brett Scrogham killing
Police detained one person at the scene who was later released. Police have not said if that person was a suspect.
“Detectives are making meaningful progress in this investigation and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward,” an unnamed spokesperson for IMPD said in a news release.
They encouraged anyone with information to contact IMPD Detective David Miller at 317-327-3475 or via e-mail at David.Miller2@indy.gov.
“The fact that it was in broad daylight is insane,” Higg said. “I think the IMPD is doing all they can and I hope they continue to do so and not let this case fall by the wayside. It’s utterly tragic.”
Watch Jim Banks’ speech
Brett Scrogham graduated from IU in May 2026 with degree in finance and real estate
Scrogham graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate. He had joined Kittle Property Group as a development analyst, according to his LinkedIn.
Serving as co-president of his college real estate club, Scrogham received second place in a real estate competition for a group proposal on how to best redevelop the former Indiana Women’s Prison site.
As of Monday, a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses for Scrogham had raised more than $19,000 of its $28,000 goal.
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IndyStar reporter Marissa Meador contributed.
John Tufts covers trending and breaking news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at John.Tufts@IndyStar.com. Find him on BlueSky at JohnWritesStuff.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Sen. Jim Banks points to IU grad shooting as ‘crisis’ for Indianapolis
Reporting by John Tufts, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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