Every time Indianapolis police shot a person in 2023
IndyStar is tracking police shootings where an Indianapolis law enforcement officer injures or kills a person. This list is preliminary, and the information can change as authorities investigate the circumstances of each shooting. The information below is compiled using data from Indianapolis police, court records and interviews with family and friends of those involved.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers shot a record number of people this year, shattering previous years and prompting calls from community groups for leadership changes.
A spree of these shootings beginning in early August led to more people killed at the hands of officers in seven weeks than during all of 2022. An explanation for what sparked the uptick has not emerged. Top brass has promised to hire an outside consultant to review the circumstances behind each shooting to examine any trends.
At the same time, the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis called on Chief Randal Taylor to resign, citing what they called a lack of transparency in the shootings among their reasons. Taylor in mid-December announced he would be stepping down as chief by the end of the year. He did not say whether the clergy’s calls influenced his decision, but rather, said he felt it was time to leave.
Here is a list of 2023 police shootings by Indianapolis police. It does not include shootings by Indiana State Police or when an officer fired their weapon but did not strike anybody.
Officer shoots Lamont Bland, 60, rescues woman being held in semi cab
Nov. 30: A man holding a knife to a woman was shot and killed by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer on the south side of the city, according to Assistant Chief Chris Bailey.
Police arrived at the 4900 block of Knights Way after a caller to 911 reported a woman screaming for help inside a semi-truck parked near a fast food restaurant.
"Officers in full uniform knocked on the door and observed a man come out from behind the curtain that separates the driving compartment from the sleeping compartment," Bailey said. The man stared at police and then went back behind the curtain.
Bailey said officers heard a woman screaming for help in the back of the cab.
Within minutes, a lieutenant who had arrived on the scene decided to break the truck's window, Bailey said. The lieutenant communicated with the man, who made statements such as, “I’m going to kill her,” “I got a knife to her throat,” and “You’re gonna die,” according to police.
"The woman could be heard screaming that she was bleeding and needed help," Bailey said. "The lieutenant, in my opinion, bravely inched into the cab on multiple occasions to move the curtain back so they could see and continue to try to communicate with the individual inside the cab."
Body camera footage briefly showed the man on top of the woman, Bailey said.
Minutes into the standoff, the officer fired a single shot, killing the man inside the cab.
The woman, who had received multiple cuts, was treated at the scene. A bloodied razor blade was later found inside the sleeping cabin.
"Tonight, this officer saved a woman's life," Bailey said.
More: Officer shoots and kills man holding blade on woman in semi cab, IMPD says
Leandre Krushaun Houston, 31, dies after being shot by an officer after a vehicle pursuit, foot chase
Nov. 17: A man died after being shot by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer during a vehicle pursuit turned foot chase.
The shooting occurred in the area of 38th Street and Richardt Avenue, east of the intersection of 38th and Shadeland Avenue, shortly after 5 p.m.
Minutes before 5 p.m., police attempted to conduct a traffic stop near 16th Street and Arlington Avenue. The driver, whom police identified as a 30-year-old man, was wanted on an open warrant for charges of theft, unlawful carrying of a handgun and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, according to IMPD Maj. Seth Ferrell.
While the driver initially stopped, Ferrell said, he soon continued driving, and police pursued the car until the driver and a male passenger, identified as 31-year-old Leandre Krushaun Houston, got out of the car as it was still moving and began running in different directions.
Officers chased Houston, who Ferrell said was seen pulling an item from his waistband. Houston jumped over a fence behind a nearby residence and at some point, an officer fired his weapon. The officer was identified as 8-year veteran patrol officer Mitchel Farnsley.
Houston was taken to an area hospital, where he died. Ferrell said officers found a gun near Houston, but it's unknown whether it had been fired.
The driver was found a short time later and was not involved in the shooting. He was arrested on the warrant charges as well as preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement and driving a vehicle while having never received a valid license.
Farnsley was wearing a body camera, Ferrell said, but the footage is obstructed by the fence. Other officers nearby were also wearing cameras but were not in the area of the shooting when it occurred.
No bystanders were injured.
More: IMPD: Vehicle pursuit, foot chase preceded police shooting that left 1 dead
Dontriell Hood, 31, shot by officer responding to a call about shots fired on Caroline Avenue
Nov. 10: Dontriell Hood, 31, was shot by an officer after police said he was not complying with officers' commands and attempted to retrieve his firearm.
At about 11 a.m., IMPD officers were dispatched to the 3900 block of Caroline Avenue following a report of an armed man actively firing shots. Officers positioned themselves behind their police vehicles in the street and gave verbal commands to the man.
Hood initially complied with officers' commands to drop the weapon, lie down on the ground and not move, police said. Officers continued giving verbal commands and told Hood to stand up and walk toward them. He started doing so, but then stopped, turned away from officers and began moving rapidly in the direction of the dropped firearm, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement.
Officers continued to give verbal commands and said, "don't do that."
After reviewing new video footage from a nearby home security system, police said Hood began walking toward the gun, fell and continued crawling to the firearm. Police said he picked it up, and the officer fired his gun, striking Hood.
Hood received medical attention at the scene and was taken to an area hospital, where he remains as of Saturday. Hood has been arrested in connection with the incident and charges include Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun, Criminal Recklessness and Resisting Law Enforcement.
The officer involved in the shooting was identified as 8-year veteran Patrol Officer Connor Finch.
Frederick Davis, 37, shot by officer during struggle for gun dies, officer injured
Oct. 26: Frederick Davis, 37, was killed after being shot by a police officer, who also was injured at a Burger King near East 21st Street and North Shadeland Avenue.
Police said the shooting occurred before 6 p.m. after officers were called to a nearby hotel regarding the man trespassing.
Davis fled to a nearby Burger King and when police arrived they grappled with Davis, who was able to unholster the officer's firearm, police said. Davis was taken to a hospital in critical condition but died after arriving. The officer, who shot Davis, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was identified as patrol officer Nicolas Deem, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
Deem has been with the department for five years.
More: What we know about the 14th shooting involving Indianapolis police this year
Darcel Edwards, 35, dies after being shot in tree by officer following car crash
Oct: 24: Darcel Edwards, 35, died days after an Indianapolis police officer shot him while he was in a tree following a car crash on the city's north side.
About 4:15 a.m., an officer in the area of East 25th Street and Dr. Andrew J. Brown Boulevard, near Douglass Park, heard shots fired then saw a vehicle speeding away, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Kendale Adams.
The officer made a traffic stop on the vehicle then the driver, identified as Edwards, got out of his car and made a comment about another vehicle hitting his vehicle. Edwards then got back into his car and fled. The officer did not pursue the vehicle, but followed it, Adams said.
After losing sight of the vehicle, the officer spotted it near East 25th Street and Columbia Avenue, where it had crashed. Additional police arrived and found Edwards in a tree, Adams said.
Police told Edwards to come down from the tree while he made comments about a medical condition. Adams said officers told him not to reach several times and he remarked about "going in" his pocket, and "kill me."
An officer then shot Edwards. He was taken to a hospital in critical, but stable condition. The Marion County Coroner's Office said Edwards died Oct. 26, two days after the shooting.
Police said he was wearing a holster, but officers did not immediately find a gun belonging to him.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police on Oct. 31 identified the officer who fired shots as 5-year Patrol Officer Gunnar Gossett. It marked at least the second time Gossett was involved in a police-action shooting. In 2021 the prosecutor declined charges against Gossett and officer Dwayne Mills who shot and killed 35-year-old Grant King on July 19, 2020.
More: IMPD shoots man in tree after crash on city's north side
Antoine Beech, 38, shot by Indianapolis officer during warrant investigation at gas station on Shelby Street
Oct. 19: Antoine Beech, 38, was shot by an Indianapolis officer after he was approached by police in his car and they allege he reached for a gun.
The shooting occurred shortly after 7 a.m. as police were investigating an unrelated robbery at a Speedway gas station at 2053 Shelby St. While at the gas station, police were told a man was inside a vehicle who possibly had a warrant.
Officers approached the man, who they identified as Beech, as he sat in the passenger seat of a Chevrolet Impala. Police said officers saw a firearm within Beech's reach in the car and told him not to reach for the gun. Department officials said Beech reached for the weapon and an officer fired shots, striking him.
Beech was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
The officer involved in the shooting was identified Oct. 26 as 8-year veteran patrol officer Ryan Thomas.
On Nov. 7, Marion County prosecutors charged Beech with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
More: One man shot, injured by Indianapolis police on city's south side
Mar-Kel Sampson, 31, shot by off-duty officer after gunfire erupts inside bar on East Washington Street
Oct. 14: Mar-Kel Sampson, 31, was critically injured he was shot by an off-duty Indianapolis police officer after gunfire broke out at Bubbaz Bar and Grill on the east side of the city.
Police said the officer was trying to defuse an argument between two groups near the entry to the business, in the 10000 block of East Washington Street, when gunshots rang out from inside about 2 a.m., injuring two people. The off-duty officer shot the gunman, who police later identified as Mar-Kel Sampson, who was taken to a hospital.
Sampson was charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon, criminal recklessness and pointing a firearm.
Indianapolis police later identified the off-duty officer who fired the shots as 16-year veteran Roman Ervin-Williams.
More: Off-duty Indianapolis police officer shoots person after gunfire erupts at bar and grill
Darmon Graves Jr., 42, shot and killed by 3 officers from 2 agencies during traffic stop on Keystone Avenue
Sept. 26: Darmon Graves Jr., 42, died after being shot by two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers and a trooper with Indiana State Police.
The shooting happened near East 40th Street at Keystone Avenue when members of the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan after identifying Graves Jr., its passenger, as having an outstanding violent warrant.
Graves exited the car holding a handgun that he raised and pointed in the direction officers, police said. Graves fired his weapon, officials said, and during a brief exchange of gunfire, two IMPD officers and one ISP state trooper fatally shot Graves.
Indiana State Police identified the trooper involved as Christopher Stout, a six-year veteran of the force and member of the task force. The Indianapolis police officers involved were identified as 9-year veteran Officer Jai'dion Broader and 6-year veteran Officer Matthew Harris.
More: Armed man shot and killed; 3 officers from 2 agencies involved, ISP says
Ricktez Williams, 27, dies after being shot by Indy SWAT team members near Lucas Oil Stadium
Sept. 22: Ricktez Williams, 27, died in the hospital after both he and Eriana Morris, 25, were shot by three IMPD SWAT team officers following reports of an armed robbery on the south side of Indianapolis.
Investigators received a description of the armed robbery suspects and their vehicle, which SWAT officers found in the 600 block of South Missouri Street near Lucas Oil Stadium. Police said Williams fired a gun at officers after they performed a maneuver to prevent the vehicle he was seated in from fleeing.
Members of the SWAT team returned fire. Both Morris, who was driving, and Williams were taken to the hospital where he died the following day.
A week later, IMPD identified the three officers who fired shots as 21-year veteran Sergeant Jeremy Steward, 27-year veteran Officer Kenneth Kunz and 5-year veteran Officer Dalton Hair. They were placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure during a shooting in which the officer's use of deadly force against a suspect is investigated.
More: Two armed robbery suspects shot by Indy SWAT team near Lucas Oil Stadium, one dead
Eric Levon Taylor, 37, shot and killed by officer during south side domestic violence call
Sept. 19: Eric Levon Taylor, 37, died after police shot him during a domestic violence call on the south side of Indianapolis.
The shooting happened about 3 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 1800 block of Portage Terrace near Madison Avenue and East Stop 10 Road after police were called about a domestic violence situation. A woman who called told dispatchers the man was going to "kill them all."
The woman left the home with her children, but her ex-boyfriend followed. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle near Southport Road and Madison Avenue with the man suspected of making the threats. After a short pursuit, the man, identified later as Taylor, got out of the vehicle holding a handgun and told police, "shoot me" multiple times, police said.
At some point, one officer shot Taylor and he fell into the passenger seat of the vehicle. He died later at the hospital.
A week later, IMPD identified the officer who fired his weapon as 5-year veteran Officer Bryan Gibson.
More: Officers fatally shoot man after domestic violence call on city's south side
Brandon Ramirez, 24, shot by two officers after K9 Ringo stabbed during burglary call
Sept. 1: A man was shot by two IMPD officers during a suspected burglary in which a K9 was stabbed three times.
IMPD officers arrived at an auto repair shop in the 100 block of West Raymond Street just before 8 p.m. after the business owner called police about a suspected break-in. Police who entered the building found a man standing near the front desk and ordered him to surrender.
A K9 named Ringo was released and the suspect reportedly stabbed the dog, at which point at least one K9 officer fired their gun. Police said the man got back to his feet and walked toward the front desk after the shooting while officers told him to stop. Another K9 officer tased him, and he fell to the ground. He was then taken into custody.
Brandon Ramirez, 24, the man police said they found inside the business is facing charges of burglary, resisting law enforcement and cruelty to a law enforcement animal, pending additional charges by the Marion County Prosecutors Office.
IMPD identified the officers involved as 21-year veteran Officer Zachary Taylor and 15-year veteran Officer Scott Hartman. IMPD later announced Ringo the police dog was released from the emergency vet and sent home to recover.
More: IMPD identifies officers who shot man accused of stabbing police dog
Kendall Darnell Gilbert, 40, killed by officer after wielding machete and threatening to decapitate family members
Aug. 27: Kendall Darnell Gilbert, 40, died on the city's northwest side after an hours-long standoff with police in which he could be seen on video yelling at officers while holding a machete. Indianapolis police said Gilbert had threatened to decapitate members of his family and burn his house down.
Police that weekend responded to multiple calls from a residence in the 4500 block of Woodland Drive near West 46th Street and North High School Road. A caller told officers a man at the address was schizophrenic and sending strange messages to family. Police said he later barricaded himself in his bedroom and refused to come out.
Officers returned to residence Aug. 27 to check the welfare of the woman who pushed her emergency alert button and found a man outside with a machete who "made threatening statements."
For more than two hours, multiple crisis negotiators attempted to communicate with the man, police said. SWAT responded and deployed less-than-lethal weapons (including bean bag shots and stun guns). During that exchange, police said the man rushed toward officers with the machete, at which point an officer opened fire.
Gilbert was taken to the hospital in critical condition but did not survive.
IMPD identified the officer who fatally shot Gilbert as 28-year veteran Lt. John Perkins.
More: Indianapolis officer who fatally shot man on northwest city identified
Gary Dwayne Harrell, 49, fatally shot in the back while running from officer after traffic stop
Aug. 3: Gary Dwayne Harrell, 49, died after he fled from a traffic stop with a gun in his hand on the city's east side.
The shooting happened moments after a traffic stop in the 3400 block of North Parker Avenue near Washington Park. The officer pulled the driver of a Black Chevy sedan over on suspicion of reckless driving before the driver ran from the car holding a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver, according to police.
During a short foot pursuit, the officer shot Harrell in the back at least once and police provided him aid until medics arrived. He died at the hospital, police said.
Harrell's family members and community leaders have called for more transparency in the wake of his death.
IMPD identified the officer who shot Harrell as Douglas Correll, a 28-year veteran of the force.
More: Indianapolis police release edited video of officer fatally shooting man after traffic stop
Daniel Yefter Ghebrehiwet, 46, dies in east side shootout that injured two officers
April 20: Daniel Yefter Ghebrehiwet, 46, was fatally shot after an exchange of gunfire with police on the city's east side that left two officers injured and a patrol vehicle “riddled” with bullets by an AR-15-style rifle.
The incident unfolded about 12:40 p.m. when officers with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force and Lawrence Police Department were investigating a previous shooting. Officers saw a potential suspect get into a black 2077 Toyota Sienna van and tried to stop the vehicle, police said.
The driver fled west on East 30th Street. Task Force officers attempted to forcibly stop the van but were unsuccessful. The suspect crashed in a parking lot leading to an exchange of gunfire between Ghebrehiwet and four IMPD officers.
Ghebrehiwet was struck and pronounced dead on the scene. Two officers, 5-year veteran Jonathon Phelps and 8-year veteran Sergio De Leon, were shot and taken to Eskenazi Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
IMPD identified the other officers involved in the exchange of gunfire as 15-year veteran John Wallace and 5-year veteran Matthew Harris.
More: Court docs give details in shootout that hurt 2 officers, killed Daniel Ghebrehiwet
Michael Barnes, 33, shot by officers after suspected northwest carjacking
March 29: Michael Barnes, 33, was critically injured by police after a suspected carjacking-turned-car chase escalated into gunfire.
The events leading up to the shooting began when IMPD officers were dispatched to a crash in the 5600 block of Georgetown Road. Before officers arrived, a passenger in one of the damaged vehicles carjacked a black four-door Chevrolet Impala that was uninvolved in the crash, IMPD said.
The driver, identified as Michael Barnes, 33, fled police until stopping at the I-65 onramp at Kessler Boulevard. Police approached the Impala at the same time the driver exited the vehicle, turning toward officers with a gun in his hand.
Police said two officers made a "split-time" decision and fired their weapons, critically injuring Barnes whose condition was later upgraded to stable.
IMPD identified the officers who fired shots as 6-year veteran Officer David Yohe and 5-year veteran Officer Donovan Hankins.
More: Indianapolis police: Man critical after being shot by officers following carjacking, chase
George Leachman, 42, shot by two officers after three police cars rammed during pursuit that ends on Poplar Road
Feb. 25: A man was shot after IMPD said he rammed a stolen vehicle into three police cars while trying to evade arrest.
The shooting, which stemmed from a police pursuit involving a stolen vehicle, happened in the 300 block of Poplar Road ― near Michigan Street and Emerson Avenue. Police said they found a stolen Ford F-250 near East 19th Street and North Campbell Avenue and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver of the pickup rammed the police vehicle and fled.
Officers again located the pickup and a pursuit ensued. The pickup driver then backed up into a police vehicle, injuring an officer’s legs before the driver struck a third vehicle, injuring an officer’s arm, police said.
While trying to arrest the driver, later identified as George Leachman, 42, two officers shot and injured him. Leachman was taken to the hospital where he was listed in stable condition.
IMPD named 4-year veteran Officer Donald Fague and 7-year veteran Officer Michael Herrera as the officers who fired their weapons in the shooting.
More: Man shot by police on east side after pursuit in stable condition, IMPD says
Christian Myers, 22, shot by three officers in exchange of gunfire on Winding Way Lane
Jan. 29: A man was shot after a brief exchange of gunfire with police on the northeast side of Indianapolis stemming from complaints of an earlier shooting in Broad Ripple.
The shooting occurred in the 5800 block of Winding Way Lane but started with a traffic stop at a gas station on 38th Street and Fall Creek Road. Police wanted to speak with 22-year-old Christian Myers, whose ex-girlfriend had accused him hours earlier of firing a bullet that struck the front bumper of the vehicle she was driving.
Myers fled from police and a car chase ensued. Myers drove northbound until he lost control and crashed into another car near the intersection of Binford Boulevard and Kessler Boulevard East Drive. Police said he got out of the driver’s seat, handgun at his right side, and ran.
Myers eventually stopped to rest, police said, then raised his gun and fired at a detective. Three officers returned fire and Myers was taken to a hospital for his gunshot injuries.
Indianapolis police have identified the three officers involved in the shooting as 3-year veteran Zachary Boston, 15-year veteran Andrew Girt and 3-year veteran Officer Jacob Liebhauser.
More: Indianapolis man accused of gunfire exchange with IMPD officers issued 10 charges
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police shootings resulting in injury or death in 2023
