INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Metropolitan Police are explaining what led to a shooting involving officers downtown Thursday afternoon.
IMPD officers responded to the CVS Pharmacy at 1545 North Meridian Street just after 4:15 p.m. for a welfare check of a man inside a vehicle at the business. IMPD says CVS employees tired to make contact with the driver, but could not get him to respond.
According to IMPD, officers knocked on the vehicle's window, shined a flashlight at the driver, and activated their sirens and lights to get the driver's attention. After about four minutes, investigators say the man rolled down his window. Then, IMPD says the suspect unlocked the passenger side door and the officer opened it. The officer asked the driver if he was okay, and told him to get out of the vehicle. IMPD says a second officer asked the man to come towards the rear of the vehicle, but he did not listen and got back into the car while the driver side door was still open.
IMPD says one of the officers grabbed the man's arm and told him to get back out of the car. At that point, IMPD says the man reversed the vehicle, which pinned the officer between the vehicle and the wall, hitting the officer with the door. IMPD says the other officer shot at the man, hitting him in the arm at least once.
Officers continued to tell the suspect to get out of the vehicle and get on the ground, according to IMPD. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services was already at the scene to help with the initial welfare check. IMPD says a medic dragged the injured officer away from the suspect's car, and IEMS was able to render aid.
IMPD says the officer was taken to the hospital in good condition. IMPD Chief Chris Bailey announced on Friday that the officer did not sustain any broken bones or significant injuries in the incident and was released from the hospital.
Chief Bailey's full statement:
We are incredibly thankful to share that the officer injured last night did not sustain any broken bones or other significant injuries. I am pleased to announce that he was released from the hospital last evening and is now home recovering. On behalf of the entire department, I want to thank the community for their outpouring of prayers and well wishes.
We ask that you continue to keep this officer and all our officers in your thoughts as they work to keep our city safe.
The suspect was also transported to the hospital, and at last check his condition was stable.
IMPD says no uninvolved bystanders were injured, and there is no threat to the community. The officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.
IMPD's Critical Incident Response Team will conduct the criminal investigation. A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs.
