In the early morning hours of an autumn day in Indianapolis, Alfred Hayes Jr., a 37-year-old man, found his life cut short by a sudden act of violence. On October 3, 2019, Hayes was at Connor's Pub in the Broad Ripple neighborhood when an argument broke out. Believed to be acting as a peacemaker, Hayes confronted an individual who had pushed a staff member.
It was then that another man, Curtis Baker, approached and shot Hayes in the chest.
Emergency services were dispatched to the pub located in the 6300 block of North Ferguson Street, where they found Hayes suffering from the fatal gunshot wound. Friends and family remembered him as a loving father, son, and brother who was dearly loved. Described as an 'artist, poet' who prioritized his family, his death left a significant void in the lives of those who knew him. He was also remembered as a security manager and for his work in short films.
The investigation into the shooting led police to identify Curtis Baker as the suspect through the accounts of multiple witnesses. A manhunt for Baker ensued, and he was eventually apprehended in Michigan in February 2020, five months after the shooting. His arrest brought a sense of hope for justice to the grieving family and community.
After a two-day jury trial in August 2022, Curtis Baker was found guilty of the murder of Alfred Hayes. In addition to the murder conviction, Baker was also found guilty of a Habitual Offender Sentencing Enhancement. Subsequently, he was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the deadly shooting. The prosecutor in the case noted that Hayes had 'went out for an evening and never came home due to a senseless act of gun violence,' and expressed gratitude for the witnesses who came forward, enabling justice to be served for Hayes and his family.
