Man shot by IMPD is grandson of caller who summoned police
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A man who was shot and wounded Saturday by Indianapolis police officers is the grandson of the homeowner who had summoned officers to her residence, police said.
The woman called authorities early Saturday and said there was a suspicious car in her driveway that she did not recognize, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said.
Police arrived to find a man sleeping in the car with a gun next to him in the driver’s seat before officers knocked on a car window and said, “Police. Hands up,” according to an IMPD news release.
The release said three officers fired shots, wounding the man, who police have only said was hospitalized and was “stable.” Police did not explain why the officers opened fire, and said there was no indication the man had fired his gun.
Police said later Saturday that the man is the grandson of the homeowner who summoned officers and she did not recognize the car because he was driving a rental car with a Florida license plate.
A gun was retrieved from the car’s driver’s seat and several officers’ body cameras recorded the shooting, police said. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on routine administrative leave.
Two investigations of the shooting are being conducted by IMPD, one by the department’s Critical Incident Response Team and the second by its Internal Affairs division.
Previous coverage below
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Three officers fired their service weapons early Saturday after encountering a man in a car with a gun, Indianapolis police say.
Officers were sent report of a suspicious car in a driveway just after 4 a.m. Saturday to the 3600 block of North Oxford Street. That’s on the city’s east side, a few blocks southeast of 38th Street and Keystone Avenue.
The caller reporting the car did not know who was inside the vehicle, police say.
Officers found a man who appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat. He was armed with a handgun. An officer knocked at the window and said, “Police. Hands up.”
At least one bullet struck the man, who has not been identified, in his back, police say. Officers provided medical aid until medics arrived, stabilized him, and took him to IU Health Methodist Hospital.
No officers or uninvolved citizens were hurt.
Detectives later found the handgun in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
Multiple body-worn cameras were activated during this incident. The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency responded to identify and collect potential forensic evidence. The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to conduct the criminal investigation. A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs.
The officers who fired their guns have been placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure in a police shooing, police said. At the conclusion of the criminal process, the civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing for any attempted use of deadly force against a person.
Anyone with information was asked to contact detective Chris Craighill at the homicide office at 317-327-3475.
News release
“INCIDENT TYPE: Update #1 – Officer-Involved Shooting
“INCIDENT LOCATION: 3600 block of N. Oxford Street
“ASSIGNED DETECTIVE: Detective Chris Craighill, Chris.Craighill@indy.gov
…
“The information provided is preliminary and subject to change.
“On Saturday, December 31, 2022 just after 4:00 a.m., IMPD North District officers were dispatched to the 3600 block of N Oxford Street on a report of a suspicious vehicle in her driveway. The caller reported there was a suspicious car in her driveway running and she did not know who it was. Upon arrival officers observed an adult male who appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat of the running vehicle and was armed with a gun. One officer alerts other officers the vehicle occupant had a gun on his lap. An officer ran the plate which was out of Florida in an attempt to determine who owned the vehicle and verified with the homeowner that she did not have family from Florida. Officers attempted to open the vehicle doors and communicated to one another they would attempt to grab the gun; however, the doors were locked.
“Nearly three minutes after arriving, the officer knocked on the window and announced, ‘Police. Hands up.’ During the incident three officers discharged their service weapons resulting in the involved person being struck. Detectives were able to confirm the involved person in the car woke up and was moving around in the car prior to any shots being fired. The involved individual looked towards the officers and moved his arm towards the officers. It is not clear if the gun was in his hand.
“There is no indication the involved person fired any rounds. The involved person was the homeowner’s grandson. Detectives determined that was not known to the homeowner and, thus, not known to the officers at the time of the shooting. Officers learned later the vehicle being driven by the involved person was a rental car and the homeowner did not know he was driving it.
“Officers provided medical aid to the involved person until medics arrived. Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived and transported the individual to Methodist Hospital in stable condition.
“Detectives located a handgun in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. (a photo of the firearm is attached)
“Multiple body-worn cameras were activated during this incident.
“No officers or uninvolved citizens were injured during this incident. Detectives are confident there is no ongoing threat to the community. The involved person in this incident was not arrested.
“The Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency responded to identify and collect potential forensic evidence.
“Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.
The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene to conduct the criminal investigation.
“A separate administrative investigation is being conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs. The involved officers are expected to make a statement to internal affairs investigators within the next week. The officers who fired their guns have been placed on administrative leave as is standard procedure in an officer involved shooting investigation.
“The civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing for any attempted use of deadly force against a person. This occurs after the conclusion of the criminal process.
“The Police Officer Support Team (POST) responded to provide peer support for officers. The IMPD Chaplain’s Office responded to assist with those involved.
“A critical incident video that includes body-worn camera footage will be created and shared with the public as has been done in the past.
“Detectives continue to canvass the area for witnesses and other evidence. Anyone with information is asked to call. Detective Chris Craighill at the homicide office by calling 317-327-3475. Alternatively, anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 317-262-TIPS.
“Case Number – IP220127319”
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department news release issued Dec. 31, 2022
