Marion County prosecutor responds to Governor Braun’s criticism following rise in youth violence

INDIANAPOLIS – A 19-year-old Indianapolis man charged with killing two brothers made his first court hearing.

The suspect, Anthony Bean, answered a few yes and no questions during the short initial hearing.

After that hearing, the Marion County prosecutor called the double murder pointless and tragic.

The prosecutor also waded into a political battle with Indiana’s governor, who criticized the prosecutor’s office this week for not doing enough to prevent youth violence.

Sitting in their car outside a taco truck in a parking lot along west 38th Street last weekend, 12-year-old Isreal Offett and his 24-year-old brother Wayland Coe were both shot and killed.

Court records show Anthony Bean is now charged with two counts of murder, after witnesses claim Bean felt the two victims said something disrespectful to a group of women, including his girlfriend.

Bean also allegedly threatened two witnesses after the shooting, leading to two charges of felony intimidation.

“This is literally over a slight. Two people lost their life, a 12-year-old lost their life, for no reason,” said Prosecutor Ryan Mears.

Offett’s death marked the 10th youth homicide in Indianapolis in less than seven months this year. That almost matches or exceeds some of the recent year-end totals.

Those numbers, which include two kids killed in a mass shooting in downtown Indy, sparked Governor Mike Braun, a Republican, to say this week that prosecutor Mears and Mayor Joe Hogsett, both Democrats, are failing to protect the state’s capital city.

“Indianapolis’ own justice system is not doing the job. I think the police department is, but the rest of the equation is not being carried out,” said Braun.

“He has never once told us what his plan or solution would be to teen gun violence,” said Mears.

Prosecutor Mears believes the governor should reform the Department of Child Services to prevent violence by giving kids a better home life. That agency, like most, is facing budget cuts imposed by the state’s Republican leadership.

“The number one safeguard we have in our state for kids in trouble is DCS. He’s in charge of that agency,” said Mears.

Mears also blamed a Republican controlled statehouse for passing the open carry gun law, which he argues allows easier access to firearms by everyone.

“When you pass permit-less carry it should come as no surprise those guns are going to end up in the hands of kids,” said Mears.

Mears admitted youth violence, like the shooting on 38th street, is far too common, but he said partisan politics won’t solve the problem. Mears said he has never been asked to speak with the governor to come up with constructive ideas.

“Offering criticism without solutions is not leadership,” said Mears.

As for Bean, he is being held without bond pending trial. That date has initially been set for September.