Feature
City sues deadly party promoters 1.27.11
WISH-TV
The City of Indianapolis is suing the promoters of an underage dance party that ended with gunfire in December at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The lawsuit cites five defendants as a public nuisance: Vanessa Searcy, Mark Battles, Brian Hill, Derrico Freeling, Corey Parchman and Desean Boykin. The lawsuit also accuses the promoters of not obtaining a dance hall license from the department of code enforcement for the event.
Shawn Dewayne Campbell, 20, of Indianapolis died in the early morning on Dec. 21 when shots were fired at the end of the dance party called Ice Cold Christmas Jam. Another man, 18-year-old David Brooks, was shot twice in the shoulder.
Organizer Corey Parchman, a Manuel High School and Ball State University graduate who played in the NFL, spoke to 24-Hour News 8 the day after the party . He said local teenagers would often tell him there was nothing for them to do in the area.
“They said the only option they had are these house parties in unsafe neighborhoods,” Parchman said. “So what I decided to do is put something together for them in a positive light.”
In addition to the public nuisance allegation, four of the six promoters face an additional charge for repeated offenses. Parchman isn’t among them. Searcy, Battles, Hill and Boykin had previously been barred from hosting dance events without a license, so they face contempt charges.
"Violence at these under-21 events occurs all too often in Indianapolis," said City Prosecutor Helen Marchal in a news release. "A life was lost at this tragic event at the state fairgrounds. We are requesting compensatory damages to cover the cost of law enforcement's investigation, as well as punitive damages."
A court appearance is scheduled for the promoters on Feb. 16.
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