‘My son’s life was worth everything’: Mother speaks out after her son dies in Indianapolis shooting

INDIANAPOLIS — A 20-year-old man died after he was shot on West Morris Street earlier this week. His mother is now left begging for justice, and for his name not to be forgotten — Edgerrin James Michael Hoover.

Years ago, Michelle Taylor moved her kids out of Indianapolis, in large part because of its violent streets.

“I can’t leave this god-forsaken city until my son gets his justice,” Michelle Taylor said.

“Why are there so many murders in this city? This isn’t even a big enough city for all the stuff that’s going on here. We need a bigger coroner’s office. We need more coroners.”

Taylor’s son chose to come back to Indianapolis with a family of his own, even after he and his mother moved away from the city when he was a kid. But within a matter of months of his return to the Circle City, Hoover was dead in a hospital bed before Taylor could fly in to hold his hand one last time.

Taylor says all she knows is multiple people were at the house where Hoover was shot Thursday evening. The police report lists at least one witness to the crime. At last check, detectives had no suspect. So, to whoever did pull the trigger, Taylor wants to make one thing clear:

“My son’s life was worth everything,” Taylor said. “You took it and treated him like he was nothing. For that, I hope and pray that you get as much time as they can give you.”

Taylor says her message also speaks for a growing number of mothers who, like her, can never replace what gun violence has taken from them.

“I will never hear my baby say, ‘Ma,’ I love you ma. What’d you cook ma?’ Nothing,” Taylor said. “I could call five mothers in my phone right now who was in the seat that I’m sitting in and been here before I got here. That’s not natural. This shouldn’t be life.”

Taylor now wears her grief on her sleeve.

“This is a brokenness that nobody wants,” Taylor said. “I’ll never be the same. I’m never going to be whole again, I’m just broken in pieces.”

Yet, Taylor has woken up the past couple mornings driven to call for change in a city that doesn’t feel like home to her anymore. Taylor said she hopes hopes to one day see a stronger police presence in troubled neighborhoods.

“These streets where there’s more crime at every day in this city? Them are the streets they need to prowl the most,” Taylor said. “Them are the neighborhoods that need to feel the safest.”

Taylor is worried the most dangerous neighborhoods in Indianapolis will never see better days.

“My baby would’ve been a lot if he just didn’t get robbed the opportunity to even make it to 21,” Taylor said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Matthew Melkey at the IMPD Homicide Office, either by phone at (317) 327-3475, or via email at Matthew.Melkey@indy.gov.

IMPD also added that citizens wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at (317) 262-TIPS (8477). They can also download the P3tips mobile app or visit www.CrimeTips.org .

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