Neal Boyd IV, a 16-year-old Black male, was a sophomore at Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana, known for his academic promise and for being a quiet and well-regarded student who was enrolled in college preparatory classes. He was also actively involved in his church, where he mentored younger boys. His life was cut short on the morning of March 30, 2001, in a parking lot just outside the school as he and other students waited for classes to begin.
On that fateful morning, Neal was
confronted by 17-year-old Donald Ray Burt Jr. Burt was a former student of Lew Wallace High School but had been expelled nearly two years prior for issues with truancy and fighting. After a brief exchange of words on the school lawn, Burt shot Neal once. An officer who arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting reported that Neal was asking for help. The single gunshot wound proved to be fatal. The incident was described by the police chief as a targeted, one-on-one attack.
The suspected shooter, Donald Ray Burt Jr., fled the scene immediately after the shooting. However, he was apprehended by law enforcement approximately 45 minutes later at a relative's home located near the school. Upon his arrest, Burt was unarmed, but he confessed to the shooting and informed the authorities where he had hidden the gun. While Burt admitted to the act, a clear motive for the shooting was not immediately established, though his father suggested that Burt had been picked on by Neal and other students.
Donald Ray Burt Jr. was charged with murder and was to be tried as an adult. He was subsequently sentenced to 57 years in prison for the killing of Neal Boyd IV. The tragic event deeply affected the community, and Neal's funeral was attended by over 900 people, a testament to the impact he had on those who knew him. In the aftermath of his son's death, Neal's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Gary Community School Corporation.
