Docs: Homicide suspect shot victim in the back after argument

INDIANAPOLIS – A homicide suspect shot a man in the back last month after an argument over stolen money, police say.

Donnie Abney III, 22, tried to run away before police took him into custody this week. He was arrested on preliminary charges of murder and resisting law enforcement.

He’s the prime suspect in the April 17 shooting death of 62-year-old Forrest Tab Grant. It happened near a bus stop at the intersection of West Morris and Hiatt streets.

Family members said Grant tried to intervene in a situation involving stolen money.

According to court documents, Grant was shot in the back. The bullet struck multiple organs, leading to his death. The coroner’s office ruled the case a homicide.

Multiple witnesses saw what transpired, and video evidence corroborated their accounts.

Abney’s father, referred to as “Big Donnie” in court documents, had gotten into an argument with Grant, who held a large stick. Abney walked up behind his father and also argued with Grant.

A few seconds into the argument, Abney pulled a gun on Grant, pointed it at him and then put it away. The argument continued near the bus stop shelter, and Grant eventually walked away.

At that point, according to court documents, Abney shot Grant in the back. He then ran south on Hiatt Street. His father soon followed him.

Officers found Grant lying in front of the bus stop shelter. He was taken to Eskenazi Hospital and pronounced dead.

Investigators talked to multiple witnesses. Each described Abney (or “Little Donnie”) as the shooter.

One witness told police Grant and Abney had gotten into an argument the day before outside a Family Dollar store on West Morris Street. During that encounter, the witness said, Abney pulled a gun and pointed it at him. The incident had been reported to police.

Another witness reported seeing a man (Grant) using a stick to defend himself against two other people (Abney and his father) before one of them shot him.

Another witness, one of Abney’s family members, said he called her on Facebook Messenger on April 17 and said, “Don’t stress out, I didn’t mean to. He was going to pull his gun first. I’m a hot head and I shot him.”

He reportedly called another family member and said, “Well, you’re not going to see me for a long time. I got in a fight with this guy, he had a gun and I had a gun, he pulled out his gun and I pulled out my gun and shot him. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it.”

On Thursday, IMPD VCU detectives found Abney near West Morris and Harding streets. He ran off when they attempted to stop him, according to police, but detectives caught him after a brief chase.

Homicide detectives interviewed Abney and arrested him on a murder charge. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will make a final charging decision in the case.