Evansville officer may lose use of legs after shooting

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – Evansville Police Chief Philip Smith says the officer shot by a suspect over the weekend is in a stable condition, but he may lose the use of his lower extremities.

During a press conference, Smith provided details on the shooting that lead to the arrest of Jailani Chew and a juvenile, who were reportedly found inside of a stolen vehicle at a restaurant on Virginia Street on Sunday. Authorities say Chew and the juvenile attempted to flee from the scene after officers performed a pinning maneuver on the vehicle.

Authorities say Chew ran across the road to a nearby gas station, where he attempted to steal a vehicle at gunpoint. Evansville Police Officer Sam Taylor was seen in footage pursuing Chew, who then turned around and fired at Taylor.

After showing body camera footage from the incident, Smith became emotional as he said that Officer Taylor suffered debilitating injuries during the shooting. He also gave a message to Chew, who had just recently turned 18-years-old.

“You’re going to spend the best years of your youth in a cage,” Smith said during the press conference. “While your peers look forward to turning 21, and doing things that young people do, you’re going to learn how to make hooch in a penitentiary toilet. You will spend your Thanksgivings, your Christmases, your birthdays, your family member’s birthdays and anybody else or any other occasion that you find important locked away.”

“You chose a life of chaos and destruction, and now that life will place you alongside like-minded individuals that those the same lifestyle. May God be with you, young man.”

During the press conference, Chief Smith called Officer Taylor a hero who ran straight into danger. Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry said law enforcement, schools and the community needs to continue to do better to end the violence in the city.

You can view the press conference in the above video player.

Chew was shot by another officer at the scene, identified as Officer Seth Gorman. Chew’s injuries were described as non-life threatening. He was booked into the Vanderburgh County Jail on two counts of attempted murder, six counts of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, robbery and resisting law enforcement. He is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

The 15-year-old juvenile who was reportedly driving the stolen vehicle was detained at the scene after an officer discharged an electric stun device. However, authorities say he was able to get away after shots were fired at Officer Taylor. The juvenile was later located and brought into custody on the roof of a nearby school.

Officer Gorman is currently on paid administrative leave while the shooting is still being investigated.