INDIANAPOLIS — A Marion County jury found Mylik Hill guilty of the attempted murder of metropolitan police Officer Thomas Mangan.
"I’m going left. That’s the last thing Officer Thomas Mangan will ever say in a normal voice," Marion County Deputy Prosecutor Amy Jacobson said during closing statements. "Why? Because the defendant Mylik Hill shot him in the throat."
Hill acted as his own attorney as he defended himself against charges of attempting to murder and other crimes in the Feb. 27, 2022, incident.
In a courtroom moment the judge described as "awkward," Hlll took the witness stand and asked himself questions.
"Mylik Hill, was you shot under your arm on February 27, 2022?" Hill asked.
"Yes" Hill answered.
"Mylik Hill, would you show your gunshot wounds?" Hill asked himself.
Hill then took his shirt off — after Judge Angela Davis helped him loosen his tie — and showed the jury his heavily tattooed upper body and the scars on his back and armpit area that he said were left by the bullets a police officer fired at him.
Prosecutors say Hill was running from officers in the Fountain Square area when he shot Mangan just as the officer was about to catch him.
Body camera video played in court showed the foot chase through a dark backyard that ended in loud gunshots.
Hill fired two shots at Mangan and five more at Officer Daniel Majors, prosecutors say.
Hill's gun was pressed against Mangan's neck when it fired, prosecutors say.
Mangan's DNA was found on the muzzle of a handgun found near the defendant; Hill's blood was found on the slide of that same gun, prosecutors say.
Majors fired seven shots at the fleeing suspect, at least two of which struck Hill, prosecutors say.
In his closing statement, Hill told jurors that the officers fabricated the evidence against him in a conspiracy designed to draw attention away from their shoddy police work.
"Normally, I ain’t with no telling, but I can tell y'all 100%," Hill told jurors.
Hill then pointed at Majors sitting in the gallery.
"That man right there shot his partner," Hill said. "He tried to kill me. How dare Indiana try to prosecute me?"
Mangan testified Wednesday and told jurors that the bullet destroyed his vocal chords and damaged nerves before exiting his back shoulder.
In a slow, raspy whisper, Mangan testified that he has nerve damage that affects his eyesight and must now wear sunglasses indoors. Mangan testified that he suffers lasting cognitive problems.
Hill's trial began Tuesday. He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, six counts of resisting law enforcement and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11.
READ | Officer Mangan released from hospital | Attempted murder trial begins for man accused of shooting officer in neck | Man accused of shooting officer gets attorney despite his objection | 'A dark object and a flash of light': Officer Thomas Mangan recounts the night he was shot in the neck
Contact WRTV reporter Vic Ryckaert at victor.ryckaert@wrtv.com or on X/Twitter: @vicryc.
