INDIANAPOLIS — A special prosecutor has been appointed to review the Aug. 2 shooting death of a man by Indianapolis police officers.
According to a statement from the Marion County Prosecutor's Office, Prosecutor Ryan Mears requested the special prosecutor to review the death of Deshon Downing. Mears said he requested the special prosecutor "in order to avoid an appearance of impropriety."
"Immediately following being elected prosecutor, I began to reach out to community stakeholders regarding the prosecutor's role in officer-involved fatality investigations in Marion County," Mears said in a statement. "Upon completion of these discussions, I plan to implement a new policy and standard procedure regarding the handling of these investigations going forward."
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Officials with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at the time said IMPD Flex Team officers shot and killed Downing, 45, after he allegedly showed a gun during a traffic stop.
Mark Hollingsworth, the chief deputy prosecutor in Jackson County, has been appointed the special prosecutor.
