Police said that officers found Michael T. Parker in the passenger seat of a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the neck. The shooting occurred at the Circle S gas station in the 2000 block of North Walnut Street, police said.
In a statement Monday, the Bloomington Police Dept. said they issued an arrest warrant for De Juan Lamar Kelley based on witness identification.
The charges are murder and carrying a handgun without a license.
The statement asked anyone with information about Kelley’s whereabouts to contact Detective Jeff Rodgers at (812) 339-4477. Police say Kelley should be considered armed and dangerous and members of the public should not approach him.
Police said earlier they didn’t believe the suspect posed a risk to the community.
At a demonstration on Sunday, protest organizer Patrick Ford said that Parker left the courthouse square to pick up water for the protesters.
“Big Mike was protesting with us, and he had been for days. And last night he left to go get supplies,” Ford said, speaking before the Monroe County coroner identified Parker by his full name. “While he was there – we don’t know who did it -- Big Mike was shot three times. One hit his carotid artery and he bled out.”
Ford helped organize a candlelight vigil to recognize Parker’s contributions.
“He was one of our protesters,” Ford said. “So, the vigil here tonight was to honor the fact that he was an African American, but he was also fighting with us. We don't know if the murderer was a supremacist or not, and I'm not pointing that finger in any way. I'm just saying that he left our protest and was murdered shortly after.”
Two relatives spoke at the candlelight vigil in the square Sunday night and urged attendees to continue Parker’s fight for justice and equality.
