On a Thursday morning in Indianapolis, the life of 36-year-old Philly J Alexander, a male, was tragically cut short. On October 12, 2017, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Alexander was found shot near the intersection of 10th and Rural streets on the city's near east side. He was quickly transported to Eskenazi Hospital, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The incident left his family and community mourning the sudden and violent loss of a man remembered for his vibrant personality and loving nature.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Through the accounts of witnesses and a review of surveillance footage from the area, detectives were able to identify a suspect in the fatal shooting. The man they believed to be responsible was 38-year-old Demond Bender. Further investigation solidified their case as they discovered a car linked to Bender still at the scene of the shooting. Inside the vehicle, they found spent cartridges that were a match to those recovered near Alexander's body, providing a crucial piece of physical evidence connecting Bender to the crime.
Despite having a suspect, the path to justice was not immediate. Demond Bender managed to evade capture for nearly a year. Authorities searched for him, and their efforts finally paid off in October 2018 when he was located and apprehended in Cleveland, Ohio. His arrest brought a sense of relief to those who had been waiting for a breakthrough in the case.
Following his capture, Demond Bender was brought back to Indianapolis to face legal proceedings for the murder of Philly J Alexander. The evidence gathered by the police, including witness statements and the crucial ballistics match, was presented during his case. In November 2019, Bender was convicted for his role in Alexander's death and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, bringing a close to the nearly two-year-long pursuit of justice for Philly J Alexander and his grieving family.
