Murder suspect maintains his innocence

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Dominique Hamler sat in the Marion County Jail wearing an orange jumpsuit. The 20-year-old is accused of being one of five men to murder 22-year-old Thomas Keys.

Prosecutors say Hamler and several other masked men duct taped and tied Keys and his cousin up.

Detectives believe the men wanted revenge for the shooting death of their friend Brandon McMitchell, also known as Bango.

According to court documents, Keys and his cousin were lured to a music studio on 46th and Keystone. Once there, the men were held hostage for several hours. Both men were shot. Keys died from his injures but his cousin played dead.

That cousin told police that moments before the shooting Hamler pointed an assault rifle and asked, “Which one of you killed Bango?” Moments later, the surviving victim says several shots were fired.

In a five minute interview, Hamler says he did not commit the shooting and was not there at the studio when it happened. He adds he is being targeted by investigators who believe he wanted revenge for the death of his friend McMitchell.

Hamler stated he is sorry for Keys lost, but he maintained he is not guilty.

“I’m innocent,” said Hamler.

Police arrested Hamler on an arrest warrant. The 20-year-old says he did not turn himself in because he wanted to hire an attorney first.