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IMPD: SWAT officers, suspect fired multiple shots during warrant service

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police on Thursday provided additional details about a Wednesday afternoon police-action shootout on the city’s south side.

The suspect, Christopher M. Johnson, was arrested on preliminary charges of attempted murder, serious violent felon in possession of a handgun, and possession of narcotics. On Wednesday, Johnson was listed in critical but stable condition, but police did not provide an update of his condition on Thursday.

As special weapons and tactics team members shortly after noon breached the door of a home in the 2100 block of Spann Avenue to serve a narcotics search warrant, Johnson fired multiple rounds at police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement issued Thursday. Officer Arthur Sibley, an 11-year veteran of IMPD who was on the SWAT team, was struck in the left forearm. He was treated at “an area hospital” and later released, the statement said.

Members of the SWAT team returned fire and struck Johnson multiple times, IMPD said.

Four additional people were found in the home: Jesse Hunter, 34; Jasmine Miller, 20; and a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy. None of them were injured. Police said in their statement, “The adult and 2 (two) juveniles were charged with Visiting a Common Nuisance,” but it wasn’t immediately clear from the statement which adult was charged and IMPD did not immediately respond to an email seeking clarification.

The Marion County Forensic Service Agency recovered four firearms, large amounts of suspected narcotics and cash from the home, IMPD said.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s critical incident review team is conducting a criminal investigation, which is standard for an officer-involved shooting. The IMPD internal affairs unit also was conducting a separate administrative review.

A woman who lives next door to the home on Spann Avenue recorded the aftermath of the shooting on her smartphone. It shows SWAT officers rendering aid to the suspect after he was shot.

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