Officer hurt, suspect dead after ‘intense gun battle’
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – One person died and an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer was wounded during a gun battle between police officers and a suspect Thursday night.
According to IMPD, the shooting happened at the Amber Woods Apartment at 38th Street and Mitthoeffer Avenue just after 7 p.m.
The incident stemmed from a traffic stop. After the vehicle was stopped a passenger took off on foot. Additional help was called to locate the suspect. An officer who responded found someone who matched the description of the suspect who fled the scene.
“The unprovoked suspected immediately fired his gun at the officer and the officer returned fire,” IMPD Chief Rick Hite said.
An intense gun battle began. Police say it ended when the suspect stopped firing his weapon.
IMPD said the officer who was first shot at was shot in the foot and transported to IU Health Methodist Hospital. IMPD said the officer was alert and conscious and listed in good condition. The suspect was also shot and transported to Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in critical condition and later died.
Hite said the injured officer was in good spirits Thursday night. The chief called the officer a hero, saying he likely saved someone’s life. With so many people nearby during the gunfire, Hite called it lucky that no one else was injured or killed.
“If you look at his car,” Hite said. “By the grace of God he is alive tonight.”
During the gunfire, some cars and an Indy Go Bus were damaged. There were passengers on board the bus, but no one was injured. Several IMPD vehicles were also damaged by gunfire.
The shootout happened in one of six high-crime areas IMPD has identified as focus areas for reducing crime.
“You can see why this is a focus of our intentions. This is intentional for us to be here, because had the officer not stood in the way of this particular assailant, innocent people may have been killed tonight,” Hite said. “This was unprovoked, an unprovoked attack on one of our police officers. We need to talk about that. The fact that the officer was trying to do his job and render this area safe.”
Police say they are not looking for anyone else at this time. No other injuries were reported. Officers were canvassing the area Thursday night for more details.
According to officials, a security officer also fired shots at the suspect after he saw an officer was under fire.
The officer will be placed on administrative leave as a standard procedure for cases in which an officer was involved in a shooting.
IMPD tweeted out a response from the injured officer Thursday night.
