DeAndre Knox had nothing to do with the fight that broke out at the birthday party he attended in February 2014 on Indianapolis' east side.

But the 13-year-old was the only one wounded when that fight escalated to gun violence and 22 bullets ripped through the home where the party was being held.

That moment left DeAndre, now 18, a quadriplegic who is unable to speak. DeAndre was a high-achieving student and a two-sport athlete who dreamed of attending Indiana University, before his life was irrevocably altered.

Now, just days before the National Rifle Association holds its annual convention in Indianapolis, DeAndre's mother and other gun safety advocates say the NRA is pushing a "dangerous agenda" that has little to do with Second Amendment rights.

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"Don't let the noise of the convention fool you. … We reject the gun lobby’s dangerous agenda and we will continue to demand action on gun safety until no other family has to experience the pain that my family has," said DeAndra Yates-Dycus, DeAndre's mother.

During a Wednesday morning press event, Yates-Dycus joined Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts and John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, to discuss the convention and a new campaign to counter the event.

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Called "NRA in Crisis," the effort is a $100,000 ad campaign created to report claims of the NRA's troubles, Feinblatt said. The ads will be visible throughout Indianapolis this weekend, including on digital billboards near the Indiana Convention Center and airport, and on a mobile truck billboard that will circle the Convention Center.

The Everytown for Gun Safety ads include claims that the NRA is mismanaging member funds; has ties to Russia and admitted Kremlin agent Maria Butina; and was outspent by gun safety groups in the 2018 midterm elections.

The 148th annual convention runs from Friday through Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. There will be more than 800 exhibitors throughout 650,000 square feet of exhibit space.

The event will feature President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and a performance by country music star Alan Jackson.

IndyStar has asked the NRA for comment on the campaign and Wednesday's press event.

Feinblatt said NRA leaders will spend the next few days portraying themselves as powerful defenders of gun rights, but he argues that is no longer the case. He said the organization is as weak as it has ever been, and that their leadership are more focused on "lining their own pockets," than they are defending the rights of Americans.

"The NRA isn’t really a gun rights group anymore. It's a business. A faltering business led by unscrupulous execs facing dwindling revenues," he said. "For all its weakness and struggles, the NRA remains a powerful player in certain regions of the country, in certain Republican circles and among certain elected officials."

Yates-Dycus, who volunteers for Everytown for Gun Safety, echoed those statements, referring to recent polling released by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund that suggests that most Hoosiers support stronger gun laws, including background checks and Red Flag laws.

She said 56% of Hoosiers think gun laws should be made stronger, compared to just 8% who want weaker gun laws. Other poll findings include 90% of Hoosiers who said they support requiring a background check on every gun sale, and 85% of Hoosiers who said they support prohibiting domestic abusers from buying guns.

Yates-Dycus said the most important thing is to keep pushing for change, something she has learned from her son.

She said despite the tragedy, her son's smile can still light up a room, he still loves to dance to music, and last, he attended his high school prom with his first love.

"He is my constant inspiration," Yates-Dycus said.

Feinblatt added that the new campaign isn't created just to look out for the interests of gun safety advocates. It is also for the average, law-abiding gun owners he said the NRA no longer serves.

"You may be (at the convention) because you're interested in buying camping equipment, but you need to understand that the NRA's currency is a currency of fear. It's fear of all people who are not like you," he said. "It has nothing to do with safety, it has nothing to do with responsibility. They don't represent you, and as it turns out, they are wasting your money."

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.