Man killed in near east side police shooting

INDIANAPOLIS – A man died following a police shooting on the near east side of Indianapolis early Tuesday morning.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers received a report of a person injured in the 1600 block of E. Washington Street just after 2:15 a.m. While officers were on the way, dispatchers told them a woman had been assaulted.

The woman had gone into a local business to report she’d been injured in an attack. Officers spoke with the woman when they arrived and called for emergency medical care. She was later taken to an area hospital for additional treatment.

According to IMPD Chief Chris Bailey, one of the responding officers noticed a man he believed had an active arrest warrant. The officer tried to talk to the man, who said he didn’t have to talk to police and walked away with his hands in his pockets.

The officer told the man to take his hands out of his pockets, but the man didn’t comply and ran off, heading northbound on State Street, Bailey said.

Police gave chase and told the man to stop and take his hands out of his pockets, adding they would deploy a Taser if he didn’t. At some point, an officer deployed his Taser, and the incident ended in gunfire, with the officer firing a shot that struck the man.

Officers rendered aid until medical personnel arrived. Bailey said the man was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. The shooting happened in the 120 block of State Street.

Investigators found a firearm lying next to the man, Bailey said. When asked if the man drew the firearm before being shot, Bailey said that was still under investigation.

“We’ll have to examine and slow down the body-worn camera video and take statements from everyone,” Bailey said. “This is preliminary information. As more information becomes available, we’ll share it when it’s appropriate.”

Officers involved in the incident were all equipped with body cameras, Bailey said. He reviewed the footage before talking to the media during a Tuesday morning update.

One officer was responsible for the shooting, Bailey said, while two others witnessed the incident.

“We don’t want this to happen,” Bailey said. “We would prefer that everyone comply, and then we can figure things out at the scene rather than running and producing a weapon.”

The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team and Internal Affairs are conducting parallel investigations into the shooting. Once those investigations are complete, the Use of Force Board will review the findings to determine if officers followed policies and procedures.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office will release the man’s identity once family has been notified, Bailey said.

The officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in police shootings.

Anyone with additional information should contact Det. Brian Lambert at (317) 327-3475 or call Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS (8477).