INDIANAPOLIS — Bullets fired by a man who was shooting at police late Saturday struck at least three nearby homes, narrowly missing occupants in one house where a 21-month-old girl was sleeping with her grandmother.
The revelation was part of additional information released by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department after officers twice exchanged gunfire with the suspect and ultimately shot and killed the man at a home on the northeast side of Indianapolis following a standoff that began late Saturday.
A bullet fired by the suspect also struck a tree where one of the first arriving officers took cover, police said.
Police said officers were called at 11:43 p.m. Saturday to a home in the 3600 block of North Parker Avenue on report of a domestic/family disturbance involving a weapon between a woman and her nephew. The woman said her nephew had a gun, was on the porch and was intoxicated.
Four minutes later, two IMPD officers arrived on the scene in full uniform and in fully-marked police vehicles. The officers called for backup officers to assist.
As police approached the house, IMPD said a male suspect came outside and immediately began firing a gun at the officers.
"One officer returned fire, and the male immediately went back into the residence," IMPD's report said.
IMPD's SWAT team responded, along with the IMPD Crisis Negotiation team, after the man barricaded himself inside the house. Police said the man stopped communicating with officers after several hours of negotiations.
"IMPD SWAT team administered gas to the residence in efforts towards a peaceful resolution. IMPD Crisis Negotiation team continued to make several efforts to communicate with the suspect," IMPD's report said. "Due to possible on-going medical concerns communicated to the negotiations team, the SWAT team determined it was necessary to make entry into the residence to determine the individual’s safety."
When the SWAT team entered the house, the suspect again fired at police. Officers returned fire, and the man was hit, according to IMPD.
The man, identified by the Marion County Coroner as Grant King, 35, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.
IMPD said no officers were injured.
Police said negotiators communicated with the man by telephone for approximately two hours. After several hours of communications, the man stopped talking to IMPD negotiators.
IMPD's report described the investigation process that will follow.
The shooting is being investigated by IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). A separate and independent internal investigation will be conducted by IMPD’s Internal Affairs Unit to ensure compliance with departmental policy, as is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is involved and will be consulted throughout the investigative process, which includes up to or including the Grand Jury, with civilian oversight. In addition, the IMPD Firearms Review Board will determine whether the departmental use of force was within departmental compliance. IMPD’s Use of Force Board will review this incident to determine department compliance.
Police said a total of five officers fired their weapons. One was the initial officer on the scene and the other four are members of the SWAT team. All officers are currently on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after an officer discharges their weapon, IMPD said.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana.
