In the early morning hours of September 25, 2016, a fatal act of violence took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, claiming the life of 45-year-old Anthony Rico. Known affectionately to his friends and community as 'Tony T-Bone,' he had just finished his shift at the Rural Inn, a local establishment located at the intersection of Rural and Michigan streets. As he had done countless times before, he began the short walk to his apartment, which was situated only a block away.
During this routine commute, he was confronted and shot near the corner of Rural and New York streets.
His body was not discovered until the following morning, found behind a closed business in the vicinity of the shooting. The discovery marked a grim start to the day for the neighborhood and launched a homicide investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Despite the proximity to his home and workplace, there were no immediate witnesses reported who could identify the assailant, leaving investigators to canvas the area for clues and potential surveillance footage that might shed light on the circumstances leading up to the gunfire.
Tony was remembered by those who knew him as a man of intelligence and artistic talent. He was a self-taught linguist who could speak four or five languages and had a passion for drawing. A long-time resident of Indianapolis, he was described as a kind soul who never knew a stranger and was deeply devoted to his family. His sudden death left a significant void in the lives of his siblings and father, compounding a history of tragedy for the family. Years prior, his mother had been killed during a robbery at a convenience store, a case that had resulted in the apprehension of suspects, unlike Tony's own murder.
As of the latest available information, the case remains unsolved with no arrests made. The police have not publicly named any specific suspects, and the motive for the shooting has not been definitively established. His brother, Tim Rico, along with other family members, has remained active in keeping Tony's memory alive, frequently placing signs in the neighborhood and pleading for anyone with information to come forward. The family continues to wait for answers, hoping that a witness or a new lead will eventually result in justice for the senseless loss of their loved one.
