Police say a man is in stable condition after he was shot by Indianapolis Police Department officers while he was sleeping in his car in his grandmother’s driveway on Dec. 31, 2022.
Officers were dispatched to 3600 North Oxford Street on the northeast side of the city around 4 a.m. “We received a call about a suspicious vehicle in the driveway,” police said.
According to the IMPD press release, the caller reported there was an unknown vehicle running down the driveway and “she didn’t know who it was.” We observed an adult male armed with a gun who appeared to be sleeping in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.”
Officers gave the vehicle Florida license plates and tried to open the locked door after confirming with the caller that no family members were from Florida, police said.
Three minutes after our arrival, a police officer knocked on our window and said, “Police. Please raise your hands, per the press release.
It’s unclear what happened between the time police announced their presence and the three officers shot the man. “I looked at the officer and moved my arm towards him,” he said. Lt. Shane Foley said detectives reviewed bodycam footage before issuing a statement and found it was not clear if a gun was in his hand. No trace.
Indiana recently made it legal for most people to carry a handgun without a permit.
It later turned out that the person in the car was the grandson of the homeowner who was in the rental car. The homeowner had no idea his grandson was driving the car.
The man was taken to Methodist Hospital in stable condition. Detectives found a handgun in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and police said multiple body cameras were active during the shooting.IMPD said it would release the footage.
The Indianapolis Marion County Forensic Department responded to identify and collect potential forensic evidence. The IMPD Critical Incident Response Team and the Marion County Prosecutor were dispatched to the scene to conduct a criminal investigation.
The IMPD’s internal affairs department will conduct a separate administrative investigation. His three officers who fired the guns were put on administrative leave, which is normal procedure. Other officials involved are expected to provide statements to Internal Affairs investigators within the next week.
A civilian-dominated Use of Forces Review Board conducts compulsory hearings on cases.
Contact Staff Writer Jayden Kennett 317-762-7847 or email jaydenk@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on her Twitter @JournoJay.
