Gas station altercation marks second fatal officer-involved shooting this week
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Authorities say an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer fatally shot an unarmed man during what police described as a “physical altercation” at an east side gas station Tuesday night.
The incident marked the second fatal officer-involved shooting this week. Over the weekend, an Indianapolis police officer fatally shot an armed robbery suspect at a northwest side McDonald’s restaurant late Saturday night, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
These two recent incidents account for all the fatal shootings involving law enforcement in Indianapolis in 2016.
Last year, officers were involved in nine fatal police-action shootings, according to IMPD.
So far in 2016, there have been five officer-involved shootings – three non-fatal; two fatal, according to Capt. Rick Riddle with IMPD.
During Tuesday night’s incident, which unfolded at a Marathon gas station near 10th and Rural Streets, IMPD says a woman called 911 to report a man assaulting her while they were in a vehicle. Police say the woman said she was being hit several times and that the man wouldn’t stop. When an officer arrived, he got into a struggle with the man, police say.
A witness who spoke to 24-Hour News 8 said that officer drew his taser and that the man initially put his hands up, but began to struggle with the officer when the officer attempted to handcuff him.
“When he grabbed his wrist, he pulled away. The police started hitting him and he hit back. The police then moved back, upped his gun and came back and shot him,” the witness told 24-Hour News 8’s Evan Johnson.
The officer fired a shot, killing the man, according to IMPD. Investigators were working to find out what led to the struggle.
So far, authorities have not identified the person shot, although family and friends have spoken to reporters about the man’s identity. He’s believed to be in his late 30’s to early 40’s. Police say there was a toddler in the car with the man and woman.
IMPD has also not released the name of the officer and didn’t plan to Wednesday, Riddle said. IMPD says it plans to review surveillance video at the gas station to get more details on the shooting.
One officer was treated at Methodist Hospital following the incident.
Over the weekend, police were called to the McDonald’s at West 38th Street and Lafayette Road on report of a robbery in progress around 11:15 p.m. Saturday night. An officer nearby arrived within 60 seconds and found an armed suspect inside, according to IMPD.
Cameron Gover, 30, was shot by police and pronounced dead at the scene, according to IMPD. Briscoe Jones, 27, was arrested and faces preliminary charges of robbery and felony murder.
It’s not clear if the shooting happened inside or outside of the fast food restaurant.
No one else was injured, IMPD says.
A SWAT team was called to help at the scene as a precautionary measure.
Police say they are working to figure out exactly how many armed robbery suspects were involved. Police say the initial broadcast suggested there were two suspects.
See below for a full timeline of police action shootings in Indianapolis.
