On a summer afternoon in Indianapolis, the life of 47-year-old Sunny Dwayne Gilbert was tragically cut short. The incident occurred on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at an auto shop located in the 2300 block of East 38th Street, near North Keystone Avenue. What began as a conversation escalated into a fatal act of violence that would forever alter the lives of those involved.
Security footage from the auto shop captured the moments leading up to the shooting.
Michael Coleman, a 50-year-old man, is seen on the video walking into the garage bay and speaking with an employee. Shortly after, Gilbert and Coleman engaged in a conversation. Without warning, Coleman produced a firearm and began shooting at Gilbert. The violence spilled out into the parking lot as Coleman chased Gilbert before fleeing the scene.
First responders found Gilbert nearby in the 3800 block of Hillside Avenue. He had sustained critical injuries from the gunfire. Before being rushed to a local hospital, Gilbert was able to identify his assailant, telling officers that Michael Coleman had shot him. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Sunny Gilbert succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation into Gilbert's death moved swiftly. Using the information provided by the victim and the video evidence from the auto shop, investigators were able to track the vehicle Coleman used to flee to Anderson, Indiana. The Anderson Police Department located and apprehended Coleman.
Michael Coleman was subsequently charged with the murder of Sunny Dwayne Gilbert. Following a trial where the evidence, including the crucial testimony of the victim himself, was presented, a jury found Coleman guilty of murder. On September 5, 2025, a judge sentenced Michael Coleman to 65 years in the Indiana Department of Correction for his role in the death of Sunny Gilbert.
