An 'egregious pattern': Group, family demand transparency after officer shoots, kills man

Update: This article was updated with information on Gary Dwayne Harrell's cause of death on Aug. 17, 2023 and additional information on his cause of death on Aug 24, 2023.

Family members and community leaders are calling for transparency after Indianapolis police shot and killed a man they said was fleeing a traffic stop Thursday morning.

"Justice for Gary Harrell," a group of his loved ones yelled as they released balloons in favorite colors of red, black and gold near where he was shot. Family, friends and community members hugged, cried and planted a small cross in the grass before the balloon release Friday night.

"Gary was always helping out the family," said Kya Williams, the man's cousin. "When we couldn't get something done, we were calling Gary. Since my grandfather passed away he took on the responsibility as the man of the family."

Also on Friday, the Black Church Coalition in a statement decried what they consider little information that’s been released by police in the aftermath of the fatal shooting.  The coalition, part of Faith in Indiana, called out an “egregious pattern” by the department of withholding details after excessive force by police.

Indianapolis police have so far announced Thursday's shooting unfolded about 9:45 a.m. in the 3400 block of North Parker Avenue, near Washington Park. The officer pulled over the driver of a black Chevy sedan on suspicion of reckless driving. As the officer was getting out of his vehicle, the driver got out of his car and began "verbally engaging" the officer before getting back into the driver's seat, ignoring the officer's commands, a police news release stated.

The man then ran from the car with a gun in his hand, police said. During a short foot pursuit, the officer shot the man, later identified as 49-year-old Gary Dwayne Harrell, at least once.

He died from a single gunshot to the chest, according to the Marion County Coroner's Office. An edited video of the shooting released by IMPD showed Harrell was shot in the back by the officer as he fled the traffic stop.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office ruled Harrell’s cause of death as a "gunshot wound of chest" and declared it a homicide. "Injury and damage to organs" were in Harrell's "chest/chest cavity," the coroner's office later clarified.

It’s unclear whether Harrell fired shots or pointed the gun at police. The officer is on administrative leave, as is standard in shootings involving law enforcement.

“These are tough times and we ask that you continue to be patient as we work through this investigation,” Deputy Chief Michael Wolley said in the hours after the shooting. “We owe it to the community, we owe it to the family of the person who lost his life today and we owe it to the officer to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that we are transparent throughout that process. We know there are still a lot of questions and it will take time to get answers to those questions.”

When asked about the coalition's concerns, the police department said it remains fully committed to transparency and fairness for the community and its officers. A spokesperson pointed to the department's changes in policies, modern training and the creation of the Use of Force Review Board and General Orders Board.

"IMPD welcomes continued discussions with community stakeholders on how to more effectively work together towards trust, safety, and security for everyone," the department said in a statement.

Thursday's shooting happened in the same neighborhood where a man was shot multiple times less than a year ago by Indianapolis police officers as he slept in a rental car at his grandmother’s home. Anthony Maclin’s grandmother called 911 to report the vehicle, not realizing her grandson was inside.

Maclin had a gun in his lap, but his attorneys said body camera footage of the shooting never showed him with the gun in his hand. He was hospitalized for 17 days and underwent six surgeries.

More: What we know about the legal demand Anthony Maclin filed after he was shot by police

The coalition raised concerns that body camera footage depicting Maclin’s shooting was released more than a month later, and the footage was edited and narrated. These videos, called critical incident videos, are routinely published by the department mostly after a police-involved shooting.

IMPD responded that when it comes to critical incident videos, the department aims to strike a balance between preserving the integrity of an investigation and transparency with the community. Officials further noted the creation process for these videos, which are compiled with 911 call audio and narration, was guided by a diverse group from the community.

More: How IMPD releases body cam video

Rev. Timothy Taylor of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in the statement said both shootings by police have left a negative impact on the neighborhood, where he pastors his congregation.

“The people in this community do not feel safe with their own police department. We have lost trust in the leadership of IMPD, which continues not to hold its officers accountable,” Taylor said.

The Black Church Coalition is calling for a new policy establishing external investigations after police shootings, the suspension of a percentage of the involved officers’ pay during such an investigation and the hiring of a public safety officer to provide oversight to the department.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Critical Incident Response team, special investigations unit and internal affairs are investigating the shooting. After the criminal investigation concludes, the civilian-majority Use of Force Review board will hold a hearing, which occurs after any attempted use of deadly force against a person.

Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Family calls for transparency after Indy police shoot, kill man