Indy man arrested for murder after being released from jail 2 days earlier

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man is under arrest for murder after police claim he intentionally drove over and killed another man outside a bar on Indy’s west side.

Court records detail a troubling history of violence involving the same suspect in the days leading up to the homicide.

Perry Banks died trying to keep the peace.

Just after midnight last Saturday morning, multiple witnesses said Banks helped break up an argument between people he didn’t know at the Checkered Flag Tavern on West Morris.

Police claimed 33-year-old Felipe Maguellal got into his SUV and intentionally drove toward a crowd of people, running over and killing Banks — who was simply trying to defuse the disturbance.

“I hope any criminal out there, anyone thinking of committing a criminal act thinks twice because the IMPD won’t stop and we will find you,” said IMPD Officer Tommy Thompson.

Despite the arrest, some police leaders said the case against Maguellal does illustrate a flaw in the criminal justice system.

Exactly a week earlier, police claim surveillance pictures showed the same suspect threatening and then shooting the driver of a car following a fight at a club on Indy’s south side.

That victim said he was also trying to play the role of peacekeeper by breaking up a disturbance between strangers outside that business.

That victim claimed Maguellal then grabbed a gun and chased him in the parking lot before shooting him in the elbow. The victim drove himself to the hospital and survived his injuries.

Police quickly arrested Maguellal with battery and criminal recklessness for that shooting and court records show a Marion County judge initially gave the suspect a $100,000 bond.

The high bond stemmed from the fact that Mageullal also had a pending criminal case of intimidation, illegal entry and drug charges in Johnson County in September.

For unknown reasons, that bond was quickly lowered to just $15,000 and the suspect was released from jail just two days before the homicide outside the Checkered Flag.

“This is a system that is a revolving door that gives everybody that comes in with allegations of violence a get out of jail free card and this is the deadly outcomes from that,” said Indy FOP President Rick Snyder.

According to the affidavit connected to the murder case, the accused killer denied any role in the homicide.

For their part, Perry’s family said this week they just hope the suspect is held accountable for his behavior.

“That wasn’t supposed to happen to my uncle, but I hope he gets what he deserves,” said Perry’s niece, Taliyah Ratcliffe. “He just needs to pay for what he did.”

The suspect is now being held without bond pending the filing of formal murder charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTTV CBS4Indy.