An incident on the southeast side of Indianapolis resulted in the death of a man following an officer-involved shooting. According to WTHR, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers responded to a crash report in the 1400 block of Brookville Way, only to encounter a man wielding what they described as a machete. Despite commands to drop the weapon, the suspect allegedly advanced quickly towards an officer, prompting the officer to fire and wound the man, who later died from his injuries.
IMPD officials relayed that prior to the police's arrival, the man is reported to have "intentionally rammed a vehicle" containing a man and a woman. Following the crash, the machete-wielding man is said to have struck the woman with the weapon. Both victims were transported to the hospital and are now in "stable" condition as described by an IMPD spokesperson, WTHR further reports. A witness claimed the assailant mentioned he was going to commit a "suicide by cop" shortly after the attack and before police arrival.
The officer involved in this fatal shooting has been placed on administrative leave while the IMPD Internal Affairs and a civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board conduct their investigation into the matter. FOX59 detailed that officers had given repeated verbal commands to the individual to drop his weapon, with Deputy Chief Tanya Terry recounting the officer's efforts to create more distance between himself and the man.
"From the body worn camera video that I have watched, he did superb job," IMPD Chief Chris Bailey told IndyStar, speaking on the officer's conduct during the incident. He added that the officer had no other choice but to "protect himself and the community." The suspect, who died at the hospital due to his injuries, was identified as a former employee of a business located within the office park where the clash occurred.
As parties process this ordeal, the president of the Indy Fraternal Order of Police, Rick Snyder, expressed gratitude for the officer's actions and is quoted as stating, "Tonight violence was stopped, life was protected, and this officer is going home to their family without physical injury." Information about the incident is still being collected and authorities are urging anyone with further insight to contact IMPD or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana, according to reports by WTHR.
