Police: Suspect dead after he fired shots in south-side food mart and set business on fire

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A male suspect is dead after police say he walked into a convenience store on the city’s south side armed with a rifle, fired shots, and set the store on fire Friday night.

Police were called to the Marathon gas station and food center at the intersection of Bluff Road and West Southport Road Friday around 11:05 p.m. on a report of shots fired inside the business. When officers arrived to the scene they did not immediately find the suspect, but found the business in flames.

Fire crews with the Indianapolis Fire Department were able to extinguish the fire and then SWAT officers were called to the scene to assist in locating the suspect.

SWAT officers entered the store overnight and located the suspect. He was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police aren’t sure why the suspect walked into the store and eventually began shooting. They say none of the employees or customers knew the suspect.

“He just yelled at the people in the store, he had a rifle and started shooting,” said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Lawrence Wheeler.

No one else was injured.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.