INDIANAPOLIS — A man is dead after being shot by Indianapolis Metropolitan police following a reported hostage situation near a McDonald’s on Indy’s south side Thursday evening.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed shortly after 8 p.m. that officers were involved in a shooting at 4941 Knights Way, which is the address for a McDonald’s, after responding to the area to conduct a welfare check.
Officers were called around 7:20 p.m. after receiving reports of a possible disturbance in the sleeping cabin of a semi-truck parked near the fast food restaurant.
IMPD Assistant Chief Chris Bailey said the officers spoke with a witness as they arrived on the scene, who told them they had reportedly heard a woman screaming and calling for help from inside the parked truck.
IMPD said officers observed what appeared to be a hostage situation unfolding after hearing a woman calling for help from inside the parked semi-truck.
A man came out of the curtains separating the driving and sleeping compartments inside the truck and sat down in the driver’s seat before returning back to the cabin, Bailey said. Officers then reportedly heard a woman scream from the back of the semi-truck, who allegedly told officers, “I’m dying, help me” and “he’s killing me.”
Officers instructed everyone to exit the parked semi-truck. Bailey said police then managed to access the semi-truck by breaking the driver’s side window and opening the door to gain entry. Police then attempted to communicate with the man who was still in the back cabin with the female.
This exchange happened for a few minutes until the suspect allegedly informed officers that he was armed with a knife and was holding it against the woman’s neck. A police lieutenant and other officers then attempted to move toward the cabin to communicate further with the male suspect.
As officers moved toward the sleeping compartment, they observed the male on top of the woman. The woman was bleeding from the head, according to IMPD.
IMPD said that police recovered a bloodied razor blade inside the sleeping cabin.
At some point, an officer discharged their weapon and shot the suspect. Bailey said the woman received medical attention for multiple lacerations before she was brought to the homicide office for a statement.
No officers were injured during the incident, IMPD said. Detectives are continuing to investigate and interview witnesses on the scene and expect to remain in the area for several hours.
Police are not currently searching for any other suspects and do not believe there are any active threats to the surrounding area.
Thursday’s incident marks the 17th officer-involved shooting that IMPD has been involved in so far in 2023, with nine of those resulting in fatalities.
IMPD noted that the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras and that these were activated during the incident.
IMPD Internal Affairs has opened a separate investigation into the police shooting. The officer who fired his gun has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure whenever an officer-involved shooting investigation is underway.
The civilian majority Use of Force Review Board will hold a mandatory hearing when the criminal process is finalized.
Anyone with information related to the shooting is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
