In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Indianapolis, Indiana, the life of 27-year-old Terry D. Proctor Jr. was tragically cut short. On March 8, 2015, Proctor was discovered deceased in the parking lot of a business located in the 8100 block of East 21st Street. An investigation by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department revealed he had sustained a single gunshot wound.
Terry, a Black/African American male, was a father, son, and brother, and his sudden death sent ripples of grief through his community.
The investigation into Proctor's death moved swiftly, and just six days later, on March 14, 2015, authorities announced an arrest. Twenty-two-year-old Desmond Hess was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. Hess's apprehension came after he led police on a brief vehicle pursuit, which he then attempted to continue on foot before being captured. He was subsequently charged with murder and resisting law enforcement, bringing a glimmer of hope for justice to Proctor's mourning family and friends.
The legal process that followed was a lengthy one, stretching over two years. The community watched and waited as the case against Desmond Hess proceeded through the judicial system. However, in a stunning turn of events, on May 16, 2017, a jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all charges. Despite the initial arrest and the evidence presented at trial, Hess was acquitted of the murder of Terry D. Proctor Jr. The verdict left many with unanswered questions and a continued sense of loss, as the official narrative of what transpired in that parking lot remained unresolved in the eyes of the law. Terry's funeral services were held on March 14, 2015, where he was remembered and laid to rest at New Crown Cemetery.
