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IMPD officer shot while responding to vehicle crash in Fountain Square

Officer in "serious but stable" condition after shooting
Officer shot 1
Officer shot 2
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Posted at 11:14 PM, Feb 27, 2022
and last updated 2022-03-01 07:40:02-05

INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis police officer and a 31-year-old man are in serious condition after exchanging gunfire Sunday night after police responded to a report of a crash in Fountain Square.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Shane Foley said officers were initially responded to a vehicle crash around 10 p.m. in the 1600 block of Lexington Avenue.

While on their way to the crash, dispatchers notified the officers that a man in a red jacket was exposing himself and a man in a red vehicle was acting strange, was intoxicated and was last seen driving southbound on State Street, Foley said.

Officers located a red Buick and a man wearing a red jacket in a red vehicle in the 1600 block of Woodlawn Avenue, according to Foley. Officers, wearing full police uniform and driving police-issued vehicles engaged with that man who then took off running. Officers told the person to stop, and at some point, gunfire was exchanged between at least one officer and that person.

During the exchange of gunfire, one officer and the suspect were struck.

The officer was located in an alley north of 1600 Woodlawn Avenue and was transported to Eskenazi Hospital where he was listed in "serious but stable" condition as of 1:30 a.m. Monday.

The officer's identity has not been released.

The suspect fled the scene and was located shortly after 11 p.m. in the area of Dawson Street. The suspect had injuries consistent with gunshot wounds and a handgun was located adjacent to where he was found, Foley said. The suspect was rendered immediate aid and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

That person is under arrest on warrants for theft and resisting law enforcement, as well as a parole violation from a conviction for robbery and possession of a firearm as a felon.

WRTV is not naming the suspect because he has not yet been formally charged.

Multiple officers were wearing body-worn cameras that were activated during the incident, according to Foley. That is not being released at this time.

Multiple agencies are assisting with the investigation, including the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, which was on scene early Monday morning and was being consulted throughout the investigation, Foley said.

An administrative conducted by IMPD Internal Affairs is underway, and the officer who fired his weapon has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard protocol in an officer-involved shooting, Foley said.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about the shooting or have a doorbell camera or surveillance in the area that may have captured anything from the incident to contact them by calling 911, or at 317-327-3475 or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).