INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man has been sentenced to 89 years for murdering an Indianapolis woman in front of two children in 2023.

Deonta Nelson was found guilty of murder after a three-day jury trial in September 2025 . He was convicted in the murder of Emily Willis, who was shot to death on Aug. 28, 2023.

Willis was murdered in front of two children who were playing basketball near a church in the 200 block of North Rural Street, near Washington Street . They told police they saw a gray van stop near where Willis stood outside the church entrance. They heard her shout "leave me alone" several times, before she started running. That's when the kids saw Nelson shoot Willis multiple times.

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