INDIANAPOLIS — A man was shot by an officer early Saturday morning after firing shots during a traffic stop on the west side of Indianapolis, according to police.
Around 2 a.m., the 31-year-old man, ran away from the traffic stop and exchanged gunfire with an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer, IMPD Sgt. Shane Foley said in a press release. The incident happened near West Washington Street and South Lynhurst Drive.
A firearm was recovered near where the man was arrested, Foley said. The man was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries.
Once he was released from the hospital, he was arrested on an active warrant for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, residential entry, and resisting law enforcement. He was also preliminary charged with possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and attempted battery with a deadly weapon.
The officer's body-worn camera was recording during the incident, Foley said. The officer is on administrative leave, which is a standard procedure in all police action shootings.
A criminal investigation into the incident is underway by IMPD's Critical Incident Response Team and the Marion County Prosecutor's Office will make a charging decision. An administrative investigation is underway by IMPD's Internal Affairs unit.
On Saturday evening, IMPD released the following list of events based on information from the police dispatch system and preliminary investigation.
Editor's note: WRTV has removed the name of the suspect from the information provided by IMPD because formal charges haven't been filed yet, according to online court records. It's WRTV's policy not to identify suspects who have not been formally charged by the prosecutor.
- On January 30, 2021 at approximately 2:00 a.m., an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer was in a marked police vehicle and in full police uniform when he conducted a traffic stop in the 5100 block of W. Washington Street. The vehicle pulled into the Kroger parking lot (Photo #1). Based on the initial investigation, detectives believe the sole passenger of the stopped vehicle, 31-year-old white male, [name], ran westbound from the traffic stop behind other businesses and was pursued by the officer on foot.
- Shortly after the pursuit began shots were fired by [name] and the officer resulting in [name] being struck at least one time.
- The officer was equipped with a body-worn camera (BWC) system and a holster sensor which marked the time when the officer drew his gun from the holster. The BWC was activated during this incident.
- Once the officer’s back-up arrived, medical aid was rendered to [name]. [name] was transported by IEMS to an area hospital where he was listed in stable condition. The officer was not injured.
- The female driver was detained and did not resist officers. She was interviewed and released.
- Detectives have recovered a firearm at the apprehension site (see Photo #2 and Photo #3). [name] had an active warrant for violation of community correction with original charges of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, residential entry, and resisting law enforcement.
- Detectives also recovered a cell phone that had open at the time a phone application monitoring IMPD radio traffic.
- [name] was released from the hospital. He was arrested for his warrant as well as for preliminary outright charges of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and attempted battery with a deadly weapon.
- The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to conduct the criminal investigation. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is engaged with the ongoing criminal investigation and will make a charging determination. A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by the IMPD Internal Affairs.
- The officer who fired his weapon is on administrative leave as is standard procedure in these incidents.
- Detectives continue to canvass the area for witnesses and other evidence. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS.
This is the second police action shooting involving an IMPD officer this week. On Thursday, an officer fired shots during a gunfight between two men at an intersection on the city's northeast side.
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