INDIANAPOLIS — Police arrested a suspect who shot and killed a man on the south side of downtown Indianapolis near Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night.
Officers were dispatched around 9:45 p.m. to 500 S. Capitol Ave. on a report of a person shot. That address is near the northeast corner of Lucas Oil Stadium.
IMPD said officers arrived "within minutes" and found a man on the sidewalk near South and Missouri streets who had been shot. Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene.
The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the victim as 35-year-old Donnie Lee Sanders.
Homicide detectives were called to the area to investigate.
Police blocked several streets in the area, including South, Capitol, Missouri and Maryland streets. Shortly after midnight, only South Street remained closed, between Capitol Avenue and Missouri Street.
Detectives believed the suspect went into the Indiana Convention Center, which was placed on lockdown by security and staff. Employees and occupants were also advised to shelter in place, IMPD said.
"IMPD officers were able to review camera footage, slow everything down and we did understand that the alleged suspect did enter the convention center," said IMPD Public Information Officer William Young Monday night.
IMPD officers and K-9s, as well as members of IMPD's SWAT team, Emergency Response Group and Aviation team, were called to help secure the perimeter around the convention center.
Shortly before midnight, police said the convention center security staff reviewed surveillance video and saw the suspect leave the facility, but he did not re-enter the building.
IMPD said its officers and the convention center's security are confident the suspect wasn't able to re-enter the facility. That's when the shelter-in-place was lifted, and officers reopened the streets surrounding the convention center.
IMPD later arrested 25-year-old Elijah Hayes for murder. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make the final charging decisions.
South Street remained closed as homicide detectives conducted their investigation.
Sanders' coworker spoke with 13News about the loss of his friend.
"Real loud guy. Funny, coming in there making jokes," said Dave Bilodeau. "Introduced himself to everybody and seemed like a cool dude."
Bilodeau was in his first week of work inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Monday night, his first shift with Sanders.
"Working through a temp agency, we were setting down plywood and dirt for the upcoming motocross event," said Bilodeau.
After the shooting, Bilodeau said they were told to shelter inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Bilodeau didn't work on Tuesday and told 13News he was trying to understand how this could have happened.
"Just still gutwrenching. It's kind of something you don't expect," said Bilodeau. "Especially to someone who comes in cracking jokes all day. Didn't seem like he could make an enemy really."
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Det. Christopher Higgins at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or email him at Christopher.Higgins@indy.gov. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.