logo
Indianapolis police: Search underway for suspect who fired at officers

Indianapolis police: Search underway for suspect who fired at officers

This article will update
A domestic violence call on the city's northeast side started a series of events that would lead to an officer firing their weapon at suspects on the run.
Just before 9 p.m. on Aug. 13, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance in the 7700 block of Knue Road. The person who called police reported being assaulted by a male armed with a gun. The suspect fled in a vehicle before officers arrived, a news release from the department states.
Around midnight Aug. 14, an officer in a marked patrol vehicle found the suspect's vehicle traveling westbound near East 30th Street and Ruckle Street.
The officer waited for backup before attempting a traffic stop, the news release said, but when officers activated their emergency lights and sirens, the suspect refused to stop and a short vehicle pursuit ensued.
Police say in the 400 block of West 28th Street, two people got out of the vehicle, which continued rolling, and multiple shots were fired at the officers by at least one of the fleeing suspects. One officer, a seven-year IMPD veteran, fired their weapon. No injuries were reported early Aug. 14.
A suspect description was broadcast to other officers and additional resources — including IMPD K9 a drone — were deployed to search the area. The suspects remain at large.
Police said they "have no reason to believe" the suspects are a threat to the community.
Detectives recovered fired cartridge casings near where the suspects fled, the news release said.
The officer was equipped with a body-worn camera and in-car video system, both of which were activated.
The police department's Critical Incident Response Team is leading the criminal investigation and a separate administrative investigation will be handled by Internal Affairs. As standard procedure, the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave.
Following the criminal investigation, the civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will hold a mandatory hearing regarding the attempted use of deadly force.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Family of man shot by IMPD in 2023 files lawsuit. Officer has since retired from department
Family of man shot by IMPD in 2023 files lawsuit. Officer has since retired from department

Indianapolis Star

time3 days ago

  • Indianapolis Star

Family of man shot by IMPD in 2023 files lawsuit. Officer has since retired from department

His killing by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer was a heavy topic of community discussion on officer-involved shootings. Two years later, his family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer and the City of Indianapolis. Gary Harrell Sr., 49, was shot in the back and killed by then 28-year veteran IMPD Officer Douglas Correll on Aug. 3, 2023. A critical incident video shows Harrell running from the officer after a traffic stop with a firearm in hand, but he never points it at the officer, prompting community members and his family to question why Douglas would shoot. "We are tired, frustrated, and fed up with all this police brutality against us," Harrell's sister, Melissa "Missy" Williams, said during an October 2023 protest for Harrell. "This was my brother... It could have been one of your loved ones." Harrell's name was shared frequently in 2023 discussions about officer-involved shootings. The next man shot and killed by police that same month prompted a town hall meeting nearly 24 hours later. The Black Church Coalition called Harrell's shooting death an "egregious pattern" by the department, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police told IndyStar that Correll has since retired from the department. Harrell was the oldest of six kids, and in the lawsuit filed by his mother, it's alleged that Correll had previously been accused of using excessive force while working for the department. An 'egregious pattern': Group, family demand transparency after officer shoots, kills man Harrell's estate is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, including all reasonable and necessary medical and hospital, autopsy, and funeral expenses, and the loss of love and companionship from Harrell, along with administrative costs and attorney fees. The lawsuit was filed in July 2025, and the claims being brought forth are wrongful death, common law assault and battery, violation and deprivation of Harrell's civil rights and the Fourth Amendment's unreasonable seizure and excessive force use. Overall, the lawsuit alleges that the City of Indianapolis failed to 'properly monitor the use of excessive, unreasonable and unnecessary force by its officers,' since the city oversees the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. "Officer Correll's actions during his interaction with Gary Harrell Sr. exhibited reckless and callous indifference to Gary Harrell Sr.'s constitutional rights," the document filed reads. It claims that IMPD tolerates and has failed to properly review, revise, implement, and enforce policies regarding investigations and handling use-of-force situations by officers. IndyStar reached out to the attorney for the lawsuit, who did not respond the time of this article's publication. 'Out of respect for the judicial process, we do not comment on pending litigation,' the department said about the case. In a 2018 lawsuit, Correll was accused of maliciously battering and crushing the spleen of an unarmed, non-resisting young man who had requested the assistance of police after he had been shot by an unknown assailant. Just before 2:15 a.m., on July 2, 2016, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police were called to a duplex in the 3900 block of Hillside Avenue. There, they encountered Joshua Harris, who had thought he'd been shot while outside. A police report for the incident states that Harris had not been shot. "He had, however, been physically assaulted by a suspect he refused to identify and arrested for resisting law enforcement after he physically impeded efforts to continue the investigation," it reads. The police report says that Harris was taken to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment of injuries he received in the initial assault. Harris's lawsuit states that when Correll and another officer arrived, Harris tried to explain what happened and show them his foot. The court document states that Correll walked straight past him and said, "Get the f--- out my face." When officers began to enter his home, Harris told them they didn't have permission. That's when Correll is accused of punching Harris twice in the face, causing him to fall to his knees. While trying to stand up, the lawsuit says Correll grabbed both of Harris's shoulders and kneed him in the abdomen. Harris would later be arrested for resisting law enforcement, but the case would be dismissed. In that case, the City of Indianapolis paid $380,000 to a trust fund for Harris on Dec. 30, 2019.

Why Indianapolis volleyball coach wasn't arrested after viral 'predator hunter' video
Why Indianapolis volleyball coach wasn't arrested after viral 'predator hunter' video

Indianapolis Star

time3 days ago

  • Indianapolis Star

Why Indianapolis volleyball coach wasn't arrested after viral 'predator hunter' video

A video starts with a confrontation outside The Academy Volleyball Club, where YouTuber Jidon Adams, who goes by JiDion Premium online, asks a man, "Are we going to talk to 14-year-old boys like this anymore?" A dramatic sound effect plays, showing the face of a man who doesn't answer. The camera then pans to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers Amy Younge and Joshua Keith, who tell Adams to explain what's happening. Adams said the man was speaking with a fake teen on the adult LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr, and told police the man, who he said was a volleyball coach, sent multiple pictures of his genitalia. Adams held in his hands stacks of papers that he touted as screenshot evidence. "I will say this, I have run into this before," Keith tells Adams in the video. "Our prosecutor will not touch this. So, I need probable cause that a crime has been committed." The video, which was shared by Black Indy LIVE on Facebook Aug. 11, shines light on predator-catching groups and individuals who will post confrontations with people online as a way to expose and shame them. Experts say they often do more harm than good. The man targeted in the video wasn't arrested, although a police report lists him as a suspect. The incident prompted police to release a statement saying the video does not include important context. Marion County Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Michael Leffler told IndyStar that the office strongly encourages individuals to report suspected incidents to law enforcement as early as possible. The rest of the video shows Adams asking for the officers' names and badge numbers. When confronted by a man who said he owned the property, Adams yells obscenities at them as he's being removed from the property by police. The incident happened at 7:21 p.m. on July 22, 2025, at the volleyball center in the 6600 block of East 30th Street. The police report is categorized as "trouble with a person" but also shows an offense of child solicitation. In the video, Adams accuses the man of being inappropriate with a minor on Grindr, a LGBTQ+ dating and social networking app where the minimum age to make an account is 18. Earlier this year, Grindr said it actively tries to keep minors off the app, although there is currently no way to perfectly verify the age of every person seeking to use an adults-only online platform. Before Adams was told to leave by academy staff, the day he confronted a man about his dealings on the app, Adams said he was going to stand outside and let every parent he saw know what was going on. "You're a worse piece of s--- than him!' Adams tells the person who identified themselves as the property owner in the video. The last part of the clip shows Adams being escorted away as he yells, "He came to meet a 14-year-old boy..." The YouTuber, who lives in Texas, couldn't be reached for comment by IndyStar. He traveled to Indiana to conduct the sting operation. IndyStar reached out to The Academy Volleyball Club, which did not respond by the time of this article's publication, but a page on the club's website — no longer available — shows the man was on the staff. IndyStar unsuccessfully tried to reach the accused man for comment. The newspaper is not naming the man because he was not charged. Black Indy Live's post has over 700 shares, over 300 comments, and over 700 likes by the time of this article's publication. Adams' YouTube channel has over 4 million subscribers, and includes reaction videos, prank videos, and collaborations with famous YouTubers and influencers. Adams posted the same video on TikTok on Aug. 2, garnering over 2.5 million views there. He also livestreamed the encounter on Instagram. Because he mistakenly posted that the location was Marion, Indiana, that city's police department had to post online that it was not their jurisdiction. Based on his channel's videos, Adams started posting attempts to trap people nine months ago, streaming the live interactions. The bio on the channel reads that although he and his team are not law enforcement, they work closely with them to ensure that all those documented are held accountable for their actions. In one video, police in Oregon arrested a man targeted by Adams, but only because the man had a warrant for his arrest in an unrelated case. Adams was upset they didn't arrest him for texting someone he thought was an underage girl. Albany, Oregon, police told Adams that he and his team are not law enforcement and were creating a danger in their community that officers were not OK with. In 2007, a Texas district attorney refused to prosecute any of the men caught by Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator," saying many of the cases were tainted by the involvement of amateurs. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police urge people to report directly to local law enforcement agencies if they suspect a crime involving a child. "Attempting to intervene independently or record content for social media can compromise investigations and potentially endanger those involved," the statement read. Victor Vieth is the chief program officer for Zero Abuse Project, a nonprofit focused on child sexual abuse. He is also a former child abuse prosecutor who works with law enforcement. He said social media influencers like Adams aren't aiding by confronting people and exposing it online. 'It's well-meaning but it's not helpful if the goal is to catch sex offenders," Vieth told IndyStar. "There are significant legal issues that can affect a case, resulting in no arrest." Vieth said there's a reason professionals get training and education to understand law and the justice system. People need to understand the law of entrapment before they attempt to catch someone doing something wrong. Investigators are trained to ask follow-up questions to figure out if others are in danger of being abused. Leffler said the Marion County Child Advocacy Center has always worked closely with law enforcement to consult, thoroughly review, and strengthen any case brought forward. "Early reporting not only helps ensure the safety of those at risk but also preserves critical evidence so that it meets the legal and ethical standards required to be admissible in court," Leffler said. "We want law enforcement to investigate potential crimes of abuse, and we want to prosecute them." Vieth said if citizens want to help get predators off the street, there are other ways they can volunteer with advocacy centers and ask how they can better support the criminal justice community. He said looking at public policy initiatives can also move the needle on holding officials accountable for confronting the issue. "Without education, you're just tipping off the offender, who can then go cover their bases," Vieth said. "Then you have a safety issue for both the victim, the offender and the person confronting them. They're at higher risk of hurting themselves and others when caught." He also spoke with IndyStar on the same topic in 2021 and questioned the motivation of people who call themselves predator hunters. "What I worry is people who engage in this are not really in it to get kids safe," Vieth said. "They're in it for the high and the 'Oh look at me! I caught this offender.'" If you are a victim or know someone who may have been impacted or have information on this case, IMPD encourages people to contact their sex crimes unit at 317-327-3330. Any information on separate cases can be submitted to the DCS Hotline at 1-800-800-5556 or the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children Cyber tip line: 1-800-843-5678 or

Indianapolis police: Search underway for suspect who fired at officers
Indianapolis police: Search underway for suspect who fired at officers

Indianapolis Star

time3 days ago

  • Indianapolis Star

Indianapolis police: Search underway for suspect who fired at officers

This article will update A domestic violence call on the city's northeast side started a series of events that would lead to an officer firing their weapon at suspects on the run. Just before 9 p.m. on Aug. 13, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance in the 7700 block of Knue Road. The person who called police reported being assaulted by a male armed with a gun. The suspect fled in a vehicle before officers arrived, a news release from the department states. Around midnight Aug. 14, an officer in a marked patrol vehicle found the suspect's vehicle traveling westbound near East 30th Street and Ruckle Street. The officer waited for backup before attempting a traffic stop, the news release said, but when officers activated their emergency lights and sirens, the suspect refused to stop and a short vehicle pursuit ensued. Police say in the 400 block of West 28th Street, two people got out of the vehicle, which continued rolling, and multiple shots were fired at the officers by at least one of the fleeing suspects. One officer, a seven-year IMPD veteran, fired their weapon. No injuries were reported early Aug. 14. A suspect description was broadcast to other officers and additional resources — including IMPD K9 a drone — were deployed to search the area. The suspects remain at large. Police said they "have no reason to believe" the suspects are a threat to the community. Detectives recovered fired cartridge casings near where the suspects fled, the news release said. The officer was equipped with a body-worn camera and in-car video system, both of which were activated. The police department's Critical Incident Response Team is leading the criminal investigation and a separate administrative investigation will be handled by Internal Affairs. As standard procedure, the involved officer has been placed on administrative leave. Following the criminal investigation, the civilian-majority Use of Force Review Board will hold a mandatory hearing regarding the attempted use of deadly force.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store