In the late summer of 2015, a family gathering in Richmond, Indiana, took a tragic and violent turn, ending in the death of 36-year-old Brian C. Nelson. On September 21, 2015, at the home of his cousin, Ryan Richardson, an evening of drinking among family and friends descended into a fatal confrontation. The male victim, Brian C. Nelson, was shot and killed by his own cousin, Velis S.
Nelson.
The dispute began after the group, which included Brian, Velis, and a friend of Richardson's, had been drinking. An argument erupted when Brian attempted to wake a passed-out Velis to go get food. This led to a physical altercation where Velis punched Brian in the face, and Brian responded by pushing him into a bathtub. Not long after the initial scuffle, as Brian discussed football and food with his other cousin in the kitchen, Velis appeared at the doorway and shot him once in the chest. Brian managed to say, 'He shot me,' before he collapsed.
Velis S. Nelson was subsequently arrested and faced serious charges for the death of his cousin, including murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. His trial was initially set for March of the following year but was postponed. However, the legal process would not see a conclusion in the courtroom.
Before he could stand trial for the murder of his cousin, Velis S. Nelson was found unresponsive in his cell at the Wayne County Jail on March 9, 2016. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead. An investigation by the Indiana State Police and the Wayne County Coroner's Office later determined that Velis Nelson had died by suicide, bringing a somber end to the tragic case.
