'Innocent bystander' remembered by hundreds at prayer vigil

PENDLETON, Ind. (WISH) - An innocent bystander was on his way home from work, when he was caught in the gunfire near his home.

Hundreds showed up to a prayer vigil Friday night to remember the victim of Thursday evening’s shootings in Pendleton, Neal Schull.

There are about 4,000 people in the town, and it seemed nearly every one of them knew Neal.

His family also attended the vigil.

He’s a painter, and his mom told 24-Hour News 8 he’s probably painted everyone’s home in Pendleton. His brother-in-law also spoke about a man he’d known longer than his wife, since he was about 15-years-old.

He had just one message.

“Just to let everybody know that he was a good guy, sorely missed,” said Allen Wright, Schull’s brother-in-law.

Judging by the packed crowd in Pendleton Christian Church, the loss of this man who owned his own painting business, who had a passion for cars and hot rods, and who was a father to three children and two step children, will indeed leave a hole in this community.

“Why? Why could somebody be so evil to take my brother. It was so stupid. My brother was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Kristi Wright, Schull’s younger sister.

“I don’t think it’s really hit me. I just talked to him yesterday evening, and we’d made plans on Sunday to have a birthday party,” said Linda Schull, remembering the third of her four children.

Also at the service, many spoke of the two officers who were hurt in the gunfire. The crowd gave a round of applause to all first responders in the room.

They also invited the whole town to a gathering already set to take place at Falls Park Saturday, called “Hometown Heroes,” to honor those policemen and first responders in this community and surrounding communities. That begins around 1:00 p.m.