INDIANAPOLIS

Family and friends remember Jessica Doty-Whitaker, who was killed along the downtown canal

Anne Snabes
Indianapolis Star

Family and friends of a young Indianapolis woman who was shot to death over the Fourth of July weekend along the Downtown Canal gathered Saturday to remember her life and ask anyone with information about the crime to come forward.

About 25 people attended the rally in honor of Jessica Doty-Whitaker.

Arlena Doty, her mother, said “we need to catch the people who did this."

"I just hope somebody would come forward and say, ‘Hey, I know who did this,'" she said. "Report it."

Jose Ramirez, Doty-Whitaker's fiancé, previously told Fox59 that he, his future wife and two others had a confrontation with a group of strangers at the canal.

Jessica Doty Whitaker's mother, Arlena Doty, hugs her grandson during a rally to remember her daughter at Military Park in downtown Indianapolis, Saturday, July 25, 2020. Doty-Whitaker was shot while walking on the canal in the early morning of July 5.

Someone in Doty-Whitaker's group used slang for a racial slur, Ramirez said, leading to an argument. The other group shouted "Black Lives Matter," during the argument, he said.

In response, either Doty-Whitaker or someone else in her group said "all lives matter," he said. 

The two groups separated, after realizing both were armed. Ramirez said someone later opened fire from a nearby bridge and struck Doty-Whitaker. The 24-year-old died at a hospital hours later.

Jessica Doty-Whitaker's mother, Arlena Doty, embraces family and friends during a rally to remember Doty-Whitaker on the Indianapolis Canal Walk in downtown Indianapolis, Saturday, July 25, 2020. Doty-Whitaker was shot while walking on the canal in the early morning of July 5.

Indianapolis police have not confirmed any details in the shooting, nor have they named any suspects or persons of interest. They have not responded to repeated requests from IndyStar for information.

On July 15, the department released surveillance footage of several people walking northbound on the east side of the canal from Indiana Avenue around the time of the shooting.

'We just want justice'

Saturday's rally was organized by Mark J. Powell, a Lutheran pastor who formed a group called "God Says All Lives Matter" in response to Doty-Whitaker's death.

Powell said he did not know the family prior to the shooting but said he felt compelled to help because he has a 24-year-old daughter of his own.

Rev. Mark J. Powell speaks to a crowd of people during a rally to remember Jessica Doty-Whitaker on the Indianapolis Canal Walk in downtown Indianapolis, Saturday, July 25, 2020.

During the rally, Powell called on the FBI to investigate Doty-Whitaker's death.

"They should’ve been involved in it from Day One," he said. "This is a hate crime, no doubt about it.”

After several people shared remarks at the park, the assembly drove to the canal. They put two signs showing images of Doty-Whitaker in the grass by the canal and listened to Powell as he said prayers.

Jessica Doty-Whitaker's stepdaughter, Macie Dunn, 18, places a flower on a poster of Doty-Whitaker on the Indianapolis Canal Walk during a rally to remember her and demand justice in downtown Indianapolis, Saturday, July 25, 2020.

Macie Dunn, Doty-Whitaker's stepdaughter, told IndyStar that she and her stepmother were close over the last few years.

"She helped me and my brother through a lot of hard times," she said. "She was there when we needed her."

Dunn wants her stepmother's story to get more attention.

"We just want justice," she said, "and we just want peace."

Justin L. Mack contributed reporting to this story.

Contact IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Anne Snabes at asnabes@indystar.com and follow her on Twitter at @a_snabes.