INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — An Indianapolis police officer was stable after being shot on a rainy Friday night on the north side, just a few blocks west of the Broad Ripple Cultural District.
At least one Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer fired and struck the suspect, who was taken to a hospital, but the suspect's condition was not yet known.
The identities of the injured people were not shared publicly immediately.
Officers had been called shortly before 10:15 p.m. Friday to a house in the 6400 block of North Washington Boulevard. That's in a residential area at East 64th Street and the White River, east of College Avenue.
In an impromptu news conference from the crime scene early Saturday, Public Information Officer Drew Brown said officers were responding to a report that a person had been killed in the house and a firearm was potentially involved.
At a second press conference outside Eskenazi Hospital after 2 a.m. Saturday, IMPD Asst. Chief Michael Wolley clarified that when officers arrived, they did not find a person killed but found a man, believed to be intoxicated, acting erratically.
The man did not stop to speak with officers, instead walking away and telling officers to shoot him. Wolley says at this point, the man drew a firearm and fired shots toward police.
One officer was shot as a result; at least IMPD officer returned fire and struck the suspect at least once. As of 6 a.m. Saturday, the suspect remained in critical condition, while the wounded officer was stable.
IMPD Chief Tanya Terry spoke after Wolley, stating:
"The suspect made a choice to pick up a gun and shoot at officers. Make different choices. Put your guns down. Don't shoot at the cops. I'm glad the neighbors called for help, because they were in danger, and our officers intervened. Thankfully, they're going to go home, eventually, but not without wounds."
The computer-aided dispatch system showed IMPD was sent to a "death investigation, natural or unknown cause" at 10:17 p.m. Friday in the 6400 block of North Washington Boulevard.
At 10:36 p.m. Friday, medics were called to an "EMS incident" with a reported gunshot, the system said.
IMPD sent this notification via social media at 11:09 p.m. Friday: "IMPD believes there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Officers are asking drivers and residents to avoid the area while the investigation continues."
IMPD says the officer who fired their weapon was wearing a body-worn camera that was activated during the incident, and has been placed on administrative leave.
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Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to contact Det. Kyle Hoover at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317-327-3475, or contact Crime Stoppers.
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This article has been updated with further information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
