It’s been over a week since IU’s Acacia Fraternity lost a dearly loved brother to gun violence. Schuyler Bradley, a former high school athlete and a sophomore at IU, was just 19 years old when he was shot and killed while visiting a friend at the University of Alabama.

Hundreds of students, friends, and family of Schuyler gathered at Dunn Meadow for a candlelight vigil to mourn the loss a truly special soul. “He was the kind of man that you just wanted to be around all the time… Schuyler was the best brother you could ask for,” says Andrew Macy, a fellow Acacia member.

 

 

Daphne Groff, Schuylers mother, shared her journey down to Alabama from Indianapolis and what it was like to share her son’s last few moments. “I just left him 8 hours ago to come here because you guys were doing this for him… I never ever thought, 41 years old, that my son wouldn’t be here.”

The vigil took place just two days after police say Zachary Profozich shot him during an argument near the strip in downtown Alabama. He died just hours after arriving at the hospital. Witnesses say Schuyler was defending one of his friends when he was shot.

 

 

His obituary reads, “To have know him is to have loved him,” and it was clear from the vigil, that he was very loved. The grief stricken crowd held candles and each other as they remembered their beloved Schuyler.

“Continue to celebrate Schuyler’s amazing life. Thank you all for showing support for his family and for us,” says Acacia Fraternity President Will Maher.

A funeral for Schuyler was held Saturday at Cathedral High School.

So far, a GoFundMe for Schuyler has raised over $61,000. The money raised will be going towards his medical expenses as well as his funeral.

Profozich has been charged with murder and is awaiting his court date after posting a six-figure bond to get out of jail last Saturday.