INDIANAPOLIS — An man who was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers who were responding to a burglary call on the city's north side early Thursday morning may have been planning a police ambush, according to IMPD Chief Randal Taylor.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to a burglary in progress at a home near 2200 Woodglen Drive around 1:30 a.m.
As officers were approaching the apartment, a male suspect immediately began shooting at officers with a rifle, according to IMPD.
All four of the officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The man, later identified as McHale Rose, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene.
No officer was injured during the shooting.
During a press conference Thursday morning, Chief Taylor said their preliminary investigation has determined that the burglary call came from the apartment and Rose's phone. "It appears that it could have been an ambush situation on the officers," Taylor said during the press conference. "The man initiated the call... and may have intended to initiate an ambush-style attack on the officers when they arrived."
Taylor said investigators came to that conclusion based on evidence at the scene, including where and how the phone was located.
The shooting remains under investigation and all four officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol following any officer-involved shooting.
Just six hours earlier, 21-year-old Dreasjon Reed was shot and killed after exchanging fire with IMPD on the city's northwest side, according to police.
The shooting occurred near North Michigan Road and West 62nd Street after a police pursuit.
Both shootings are being investigated by IMPD's Critical Incident Response Team, IMPD's Internal Affairs Unit, and the department's Firearms Review Board. The Marion County Prosecutor's Office will also be involved.
MORE | Suspect dead after shootout with IMPD on city's northwest side
Summary of incident from IMPD
IMPD released the following summary Thursday evening on the incident:
- On May 7th, 2020 at approximately 01:30 AM officers of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched 2200 Woodglen Drive to a burglary in progress.
- Caller stated two unknown subjects were trying to break into residence. A cell phone was recovered from the scene. It was later confirmed to be the same one used to call 9-1-1 and belonged to the suspect.
- Four veteran officers arrived on scene and approached the residence together.
- The officers encountered a male outside of the dispatched address.
- The male began firing at officers with a rifle. Nearby cell phone video confirms officers gave repeated and clear commands to the male to move away from the rifle. The video also shows the individual pointing the rifle in the direction of the officers. Witness statements and evidence from the scene also indicate that shots were fired from the rifle.
- The four officers returned fire, striking the male.
- IEMS arrived and pronounced the male, later identified as McHale Rose, deceased on scene. Officers located a rifle near him at the scene, which was collected as evidence.
- No officers were injured in the incident.
- It does not appear at this time that Mr. Rose had any connection to the address police were called to from his phone. There was no evidence of a burglary or attempted burglary. Preliminary evidence indicates the 911 call may have been made to lure officers into an ambush-style attack.
- The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team is handling the criminal investigation. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is also involved in the investigation
- An Internal Affairs investigation is also ongoing.
- The four involved officers are currently off work on administrative leave as is standard procedure in these types of incidents.
