Police, mayor deliver sharp remarks after two IMPD officers shot: 'We are fed up.'
Update: The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the suspect who was killed as 46-year-old Daniel Yefter Ghebrehiwet.
When it came time to address the public after a shooting hospitalized two Indianapolis officers Thursday afternoon, the city’s mayor and police came with a clear message: We are fed up. And we’re coming for those feeding the city’s violence.
Assistant Chief of Police Christopher Bailey gave an impassioned address Thursday afternoon at 30th Street and Post Road, where, hours earlier, an investigation quickly evolved into a brief vehicle pursuit and an exchange of gunfire, injuring the two officers and killing the suspect. The shooting left a patrol vehicle “riddled” with bullets by an AR-15-style rifle.
“We are fed up with it. The community should be fed up with it,” Bailey said, raising his voice. “And we have two officers who are lucky to be alive today.”
More: IMPD releases images of bullet-riddled patrol car from shooting that injured two officers
The incident unfolded about 12:40 p.m. as officers with the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force and Lawrence Police Department were investigating a previous shooting, saw a potential suspect and tried to stop the vehicle. The driver fled west on East 30th Street. Task Force officers attempted to forcibly stop the vehicle but were unsuccessful. The suspect crashed in a parking lot. An exchange of gunfire ensued between the suspect and four officers.
The injured officers were rushed to Eskenazi Hospital and are expected to recover. The shooting suspect, a 46-year-old man, was fatally shot at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle was found and taken into custody.
The shooting closed East 30th Street between North Post Road and North Franklin Road for hours. Amid the flurry of activity, Bailey also spoke passionately of the officers' mission to remove illegal firearms from people who they considered were endangering the community.
"They put on the uniform today and went out to get the people who are terrorizing our neighborhoods," he said. "We all owe them a debt of gratitude."
Outside Eskenazi Hospital downtown, Mayor Joe Hogsett shared his own thoughts about the shooting, first commending the “resolve and commitment” of the two officers.
He then said it’s not enough to just voice support for the police department in the aftermath, and directly addressed the city’s illegal trigger-pullers and suppliers of firearms.
“I want those people to know that we are coming for them and that we aren’t stopping there,” Hogsett said.
Without going into specifics, Hogsett said he’s in talks with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to “get the full support” of the Department of Justice, FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to examine Thursday’s shooting and other incidents of gun violence in hopes of targeting people illegally carrying weapons in the city.
“I may not have the ability to shut off the faucet of guns that pour into Indianapolis, but I’ll be damned if we’re not going to do everything we can to identify, to arrest and to punish those participating in this illicit marketplace of death and encouraging federal charges wherever appropriate,” he said.
Police Chief Randal Taylor said he spoke to the two injured officers, calling them “incredible people” with “great attitudes. They should be back on the street soon, he said.
Past acts of gun violence have killed police officers in Central Indiana
There have been several acts of gun violence against police officers in Central Indiana over the past few years.
In August 2022, Richmond K-9 police officer, Seara Burton, was shot in the head during a traffic stop. Burton, 28, had been called to assist a traffic stop of a man riding a moped.
Burton’s K-9, Brev, indicated to the odor of narcotics. The driver of the moped fired multiple shots at officers, striking Burton. She was taken to the hospital where she lasted 38 days on life support before dying on Sept. 18, 2022.
More: Everything we know about Richmond police officer Seara Burton's shooting death
July 2022: Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz killed during traffic stop
Last July, Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz, 24, was found with multiple bullet wounds inside his patrol car after pulling a vehicle over near the intersection of State Road 37 and County Road 1100 North in Madison County. Responding officers attempted to perform life-saving measures on Shahnavaz before he was taken by helicopter to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, where he was pronounced dead.
Police detained a suspect a short time after the shooting.
More: Officer Shahnavaz died in hail of bullets, never unholstered firearm, court docs state
March 2022: IMPD Officer Thomas Mangan shot in the throat
In March 2022, a first-year Indianapolis police officer was wounded during a shootout in Fountain Square. Officer Thomas Mangan was shot in the throat in the 1600 block of Lexington Avenue after responding to a report of a vehicle crash.
A man in the area who was reported to be intoxicated and “acting strange” fled from officers when they approached. The man fired at police and a bullet hit Mangan in the neck, leaving him in serious but stable condition. He spent two weeks in the hospital before leaving to recover at home.
More: IMPD: Officer injured in Fountain Square shootout was shot in neck; more surgery scheduled
August 2021: IMPD officer shot during a welfare check
An Indianapolis police officer was shot in the leg while checking on a man’s welfare in August 2021. Officers were called to the city’s southeast side about 2 a.m. to check on a man experiencing a “mental/emotional crisis” and suicidal thoughts, according to IMPD.
While waiting for an ambulance to take him to the hospital for evaluation, the man lunged at the officer, and grabbed the officer's gun. The bullet injured the man’s finger and the officer’s leg. After the weapon was fired, the man ran before being apprehended by other officers, IMPD said. Both the man and the officer were taken to nearby hospitals in stable condition.
More: Indianapolis police officer shot during welfare check early Saturday, IMPD says.
May 2021: IMPD officer struck multiple times by gunfire
In May 2021, an Indianapolis police officer was injured while responding to a shooting on the city’s northwest side. Officers pursued a suspect to the 1600 block of West 30th Street near Riverside Drive, "at which point there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and officers," police said. A female officer was struck by gunfire multiple times and was listed in good condition after being transported to Methodist Hospital.
More: Indianapolis police officer, others shot on northwest side, officials said
April 2020: IMPD Officer Breann Leath killed during domestic violence call
Breann Leath, a 24-year-old Indianapolis police officer died in April 2020 while responding to a domestic violence call. At the time, it was the first line-of-duty death for the department in more than five years.
As she approached the apartment, someone fired shots through the door, hitting Leath. A woman at the apartment also was struck. Two officers pulled both Leath and the other woman down a staircase and away from the apartment. Leath did not survive her injuries.
More: Indianapolis police officer fatally shot responding to a domestic violence call
Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com. IndyStar reporter John Tufts contributed to this report.
Two IMPD officers received injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. The injuries to both officers are believed to be non-life threatening. Media staging will preliminarily be at 25th/Post. This is a very active scene and will be for some time. https://t.co/P7iP5mPeGY
— IMPD (@IMPDnews) April 20, 2023
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Update on 2 Indianapolis police officers shot on East side
