CARMEL — Carmel police officers repeatedly warned a man armed with a high-powered rifle to drop the weapon before the man raised the firearm toward officers and officers opened fire killing him last month.
In a video briefing released Thursday, a Carmel police said SWAT negotiators had tried to make contact with the man, Keith Scales, 60, after a report of shots fired and after a caller requested a welfare check on him. Police said Scales had been threatening to harm himself.
As officers were arriving at the home in the 400 block of West Main Street on Jan. 31, Scales was firing shots out of the house. Some of the rounds struck vehicles on the road, including one occupied police vehicle, according to Carmel police Lt. Tim Byrne.
READ MORE | Man fatally shot by Carmel police officer after pointing weapon during SWAT situation
Video released by the police department shows Scales outside the front door of the house armed with a rifle.
"Put the gun down. Just do it now, bud," an officer said to Scales on the video. "Put the gun down. You don't want to do this, bud. Come on. Just talk to us. Put the gun down."
Moments after the officer spoke, the video shows Scales raised the rifle and point it at officers. Police then opened fire.
The following video contains graphic images and strong language. Viewer discretion is advised:
According to police, Scales spent nearly an hour and a half inside the house, periodically firing shots into the neighborhood, prior to stepping out of the house and pointing the weapon at officers.
After Scales was struck by officers' gunfire, the officers immediately rendered aid and he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died, police said.
Byrne said a criminal investigation of the incident is being conducted by the Fishers Police Department. Once completed, the investigation will be turned over to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office for review and a determination of possible charges.
An internal review to determine if the five officers involved in the incident complied with department policy is also ongoing, Byrne said.
