Man stable in hospital a day after he and IMPD officers exchange gunfire
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A 21-year-old man wanted on two arrest warrants was stable at a hospital a day after a gunbattle involving him plus a group of detectives and SWAT officers on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
IMPD identified the man Wednesday as Tavon Macklin.
Dispatch information said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department made a traffic stop shortly after 2:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 3100 block of Forest Manor Avenue. That’s in a residential area northeast of the intersection of East 30th Street and North Sherman Drive. According to dispatch information, an ambulance was sent to the block about three minutes after the traffic stop was recorded. IMPD on Tuesday night shared an advisory that said the shooting happened in the 3330 block of Forest Manor Avenue.
No officers were hurt in the shooting.
IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said Crime Gun Intelligence Center detectives and special-weapons-and-tactics officers were tracking the man, who was not identified. He had two open arrest warrants for Marion County Community Corrections violations for robbery, Bailey said. The 21-year-old man’s weapon was recovered at the shooting scene, but Bailey would not describe what type of weapon the man fired.
The IMPD advisory issued later said homicide detectives were seeking the 21-year-old man for questioning in an ongoing murder investigation.
Before the gunbattle, authorities believed the man was armed and “they had been tracking this individual for a period of time,” Bailey said.
Before the gunfire, IMPD stopped a vehicle, driven by a woman, in which the man was a passenger in the front. Police on Tuesday said Police did not say what type of vehicle was involved. After the initial stop, the vehicle then sped off about a half-block, Bailey said, and that’s when officers attempted a “PIT maneuver.” PIT is an acronym for “pursuit intervention technique” in which a pursuing car forces a fleeing car to turn sideways abruptly, causing the driver to stop.
Bailey said the suspect fired shots at officers, and the officers returned fire. He said he knows how many officers fired their weapons but declined to provide details. Bailey said he would not guess how many shots were fired.
At least three officers wore body cameras, which were active during the shooting, but the SWAT officers have not yet had cameras added to their uniforms as IMPD is awaiting equipment from a vendor, according to Bailey and the IMPD advisory.
IMPD’s critical response team will lead the investigation, and IMPD’s internal affairs will conduct a parallel investigation, Bailey said. Those completed investigations will be reviewed by “the executive staff” and later the “citizen majority firearms review board,” he said.
IMPD authorities said they are not looking for anybody else, and there is no threat to the public.
The woman who was driving the vehicle was taken to a hospital as a precaution. She was released by Tuesday night. IMPD has not identified her.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office will decide on any charges as a result of the shooting, Bailey said.
The IMPD officers who fired their guns are on administrative leave, a standard procedure in such shootings.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were part of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center team; none of them fired their guns in the shooting, the advisory said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477.
News release
“INCIDENT TYPE: UPDATE #1– Officer-Involved Shooting
“INCIDENT LOCATION: 3300 Forest Manor Avenue
“INDIANAPOLIS- The following information is an updated summary of the officer involved shooting that occurred at 3300 Forest Manor Avenue. on February 23, 2021,. The information provided is preliminary and subject to change. (Content was gathered from the Police CAD and the preliminary investigation.)
“IMPD SWAT Quick Response Force (QRF), Officers, Detectives, and ATF Agents assigned to Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) were tracking a 21-year-old, Tavon Macklin. Macklin was wanted on two felony robbery warrants related to Marion County Community Corrections violations and was being sought for questioning by Homicide Detectives for an ongoing murder investigation.
“On February 23, 2021, at approximately 2:54 p.m., Officers identified Macklin in a vehicle which was travelling southbound in the 3300 block of Forest Manor Avenue. QRF and CGIC, in marked and unmarked police vehicle, conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle, which stopped briefly before fleeing southbound for a short distance. Officers used a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) to stop the suspect vehicle. (Photo #1)
“Macklin, who was the front seat passenger, jumped out and immediately began firing his gun at officers, hitting an occupied police vehicle (Photo #2). Over the course of the incident, seven officers fired their weapons.
“Macklin was struck by officers during the exchange of gunfire.
“A SWAT medic was on scene and immediately rendered first aid to Macklin until Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services (IEMS) arrived on scene. Macklin was transported to Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition. On February 24, 2021, his condition was upgraded to stable.
“Macklin’s gun was recovered at the apprehension site. (Photo #3)
“At least three officers were equipped with body-worn cameras which were activated at the time of the shooting.
“None of the officers involved were injured.
“The female driver of the vehicle Macklin was riding in was detained and transported to a local hospital for a check out. She has since been released from the hospital.
“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 IMPD Internal Affairs.
“The officers who fired their guns are 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.
“Last year, Chief Randal Taylor announced the creation of a new civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board, which has the authority to review uses of force by an IMPD officer, whether a physical altercation, deployment of a taser, or use of a firearm. The Use of Force Review Board will conduct a mandatory hearing for any use of deadly force against a person. Consistent with the Merit Law, the Use of Force Review Board will make an advisory finding related to this incident which will be limited to determining whether the officer’s actions were within departmental policy.
“A charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.“
News release issued Feb. 24, 2021, by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
