An Indianapolis police officer is in stable condition, a girl and woman are critically injured, and the suspect is dead Wednesday night in connection with a domestic disturbance on the northeast side, law enforcement officials said.
The officer was struck in the leg while responding to the report about 9 p.m. at an apartment in the 7500 block of Bayview Club Drive, Assistant Chief of Police Chris Bailey told reporters. The officer was checking the perimeter of the building after getting no response from inside the apartment, when the suspect fired shots from inside.
The officer took cover, and another officer at the scene applied a tourniquet to his injuries before medics took him to a hospital.
Police found three additional people shot inside the apartment after the officer was shot, Bailey said. Among them were a girl and woman who were later taken to hospitals, as well as the suspect. Police believe the suspect shot himself and later died in the hospital.
Three juveniles escaped from the apartment without injuries, police said. Their relationship with the suspect is unclear. No officers fired their weapons during the incident, according to officials.
Bailey said the violence is an example of "what can happen when people make bad decisions."
"The officers, when they get these domestic violence type of calls, they're the most dangerous and uncertain type of call the officer can get," he said. "You also have to think and wrap our arms around the children that were able to escape. They're traumatized."
Police said there's no ongoing threat to the community as of 10:30 p.m.
Bailey said IMPD's Critical Incident Response team and Crime Lab will continue to gather evidence for several more hours as of 11:30.
Mayor Joe Hogsett offered his thoughts to the officer and family in a statement shortly after the incident.
"I am grateful to hear that the officer injured in tonight's incident is in stable condition. My thoughts are with the officer and their family, as well as all of the brave IMPD officers who routinely go into harm's way to keep our community safe," he said. "We must do everything we can to stop the scourge of gun violence, deploying resources and uniting neighbors to halt this vicious cycle."
Chief Randal Taylor and the officer's family arrived at the hospital shortly after he was admitted.
"Once again the brave men and women of the IMPD answered the call tonight as they do each and every night, not knowing the dangers that wait for them at the other end of that phone line," Bailey said.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call Detective Sergeant Michael Duke at the IMPD Homicide Office at 317.327.3475 or e-mail him at [email protected]. People can call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS to remain anonymous.
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