A traffic stop on Indianapolis' east side escalated into a deadly car chase and shooting on Monday afternoon, resulting in the death of a male suspect. According to WRTV, the situation began just after 4:00 p.m. when Lawrence Police Department officers initiated a stop in the 6900 block of Pendleton Pike. During the stop a female passenger exited the car, after which the male driver fled the scene, prompting a pursuit.
During the chase, the suspect is reported to have fired shots at pursuing Lawrence officers, leading them to shortly after be joined by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers. The vehicle chase came to a halt near 30th and Shadeland Avenue, where an officer-involved shooting occurred. The IMPD confirmed in a statement obtained by IndyStar that multiple loud verbal commands were given to the suspect prior to the shooting.
After repeated commands failed to elicit a response from the suspect, IMPD SWAT officers, using an armored vehicle and a drone to safely survey the inside of the suspect's vehicle, approached and pronounced the individual deceased. An investigation into the incident revealed a gun near the suspect, as detailed by FOX59. Both Lawrence PD Chief Curtis Bigsbee and IMPD Chief Chris Bailey expressed regret about the incident.
No civilians or officers were injured during the ordeal, though several cars were hit by gunfire. Lawrence and IMPD encouraged citizens with vehicles suffering damage due to the gunfire to get promptly assistance by calling 911. The woman who had exited the vehicle before the chase was reported as cooperative with the police probe that followed. The suspect has not been named pending notification of next of kin, with the Marion County Coroner's Office actively assisting IMPD and LPD in their inquiries. IMPD's internal affairs and the critical incident response teams are looking to establish if police protocol was followed, and the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, as per department policy. Both agencies stated that all officers had active body cameras during the incident.
