INDIANAPOLIS — Newly released bodycam footage shows an Indianapolis police officer chase an armed man on the city’s near east side before tasing and eventually shooting and killing him.
Adam Javonta Sykes, 31, was shot and killed by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer in the early hours of Feb. 25. Officers had spotted Sykes – who they believed had an active arrest warrant – walking out of a gas station and chased him after he walked away.
In a Critical Incident Video released Friday afternoon on YouTube, edited IMPD bodycam footage and security video show Sykes’ initial interaction with police as well as the subsequent foot chase and fatal shooting.
The shooting
IMPD says officers were called just after 2:20 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2025, to the Speedway gas station in the 1600 block of E. Washington Street for an injured person. While en route, officers were told that a woman had been assaulted by multiple people.
The woman had reportedly gone into the Speedway to report she’d been injured in an attack. Officers spoke with the woman when they arrived and called for emergency medical care. She was later taken to an area hospital for additional treatment.
As officers were investigating the original, unrelated call outside of the store, one of them saw Sykes exit the building. The officer recognized Sykes and was aware he had an open warrant for his arrest for theft in Marion County.
Directly after the shooting, IMPD officials said the officer tried to make contact with Sykes. However, the suspect reportedly refused and began walking away.
Police said the officer told Sykes to take his hands out of his pockets, but that he refused. Sykes then reportedly took off running, headed northbound on State Street.
Police gave chase and told Sykes to stop and take his hands out of his pockets, adding they would deploy a Taser if he didn’t. At some point, an officer deployed his Taser in the 120 block of State Street and the incident ended in gunfire, with the officer firing a shot that struck Sykes.
At the time, IMPD officials were unable to say whether Sykes was believed to have been involved in the original assault. Officers did, however, recover a loaded handgun on the ground near Syke’s body. A photo of the gun can be seen above.
Officers reportedly gave Sykes CPR and first aid immediately after the shooting. IEMS crews later arrived on scene and took Sykes to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His death was ruled a homicide by the Marion County Coroner’s Office.
‘I don’t have to talk to you’
A newly released compilation of edited IMPD bodycam footage and security video from Speedway’s cameras provides details into the shooting. While the video is blurry and difficult to see at times, it gives more context surrounding the incident.
Security footage from inside the Speedway store shows Sykes walking inside the gas station as officers arrive on scene. He is then seen walking outside, past three IMPD officers.
Sykes can be seen being greeted by the IMPD officer who recognized him, but Sykes continues walking toward the side of the building. The officer who recognized Sykes then motions toward a second officer and they follow closely behind Sykes as he walks around the corner of the store.
“Hey buddy,” the officer who recognized Sykes says. “Come here real quick.”
“I don’t have to talk to you,” Sykes says.
“Yeah, well, come here real quick,” the officer responds.
“I didn’t do nothing. I didn’t call y’all. I don’t want to talk to you,” Sykes says.
“I understand that,” the officer replies while taking steps toward Sykes. “Come here.”
“I don’t have to talk to you,” Sykes says again.
“Yes, you do,” the officer says.
“No, I do not,” Sykes says.
“You do,” the officer says while taking steps toward Sykes, who is walking away with his hands in his pockets.
“Pull your hands out of your pockets for me,” the officer says.
Sykes appears to yell something inaudible back to the officer before he takes off running northbound. Both IMPD officers then chase him to the 120 block of State Street.
“You better stop or you’ll get tased,” the same officer can be heard yelling at Sykes while running and drawing his stun gun. “Stop or you will get tased. Stop!”
The officer then deploys his stun gun, striking Sykes and causing him to fall to the ground.
“Stop! Get on the ground,” the second officer yells. “Get on the f***ing ground.”
Bodycam footage shows that, while Sykes is falling to the ground, an object falls out of his hands onto the ground. IMPD later alleged that this was a handgun being carried by Sykes.
The video then shows Sykes appear to reach for the gun while he is still on the ground. The officer who initially recognized Sykes then can be seen drawing his handgun and firing three shots. The second officer never fires his gun.
“Do not move,” the officer who fired shots then yells out. “Do not move.”
Aftermath
IMPD said the officers then provided first aid and CPR to Sykes until an ambulance arrived, although none of this response is shown in the released bodycam footage. No officers were hurt during the incident.
The video ends by saying that the shooting is being investigated by several different groups, including IMPD Internal Affairs, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team and the Civilian-Majority Use of Force Review Board.
Online court records show that, at the time of his death, Sykes did have an active warrant for his arrest. The warrant, issued in June 2024 by Marion Superior Court 25, charged Sykes with Level 6 Felony Theft.
