The Indy Channel
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis police officer who was shot during a traffic stop Monday returned fire, killing the suspect, police said.
The shooting happened just before 5 p.m. outside the Carriage House Apartments at 10151 Pine Needle Court, near 42nd Street and Mitthoeffer Road.
Police said veteran Officer Dewey Runnels, 51, had pulled over a car that matched the description of a car involved in a shooting and robbery earlier in the day.
When the officer approached the vehicle, one of the three men inside got out and fired at Runnels, hitting him in the upper thigh, police said.
Runnels returned fire, killing Demetrius Martin, 23. Runnels was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital in good condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
Indianapolis Police Chief Paul Ciesielski said Runnels was in good spirits.
“He said, ‘That’s what you pay me to do, chief,’” Ciesielski said. “He’s ready to go back to work, and I think we’re fortunate to have officers like him on the department.”
Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.
“He just had a baby five days ago, his first child, little baby girl,” said a woman who identified herself as Martin’s sister.
The two other people in the car were taken in for questioning, but they were not charged.
Residents in the apartment complex said shootings are too common in the area.
“I’ll be glad when it’s over with. It’s bad crime out here,” said resident Shirley Ingram. “It’s not us. It’s people coming from other neighborhoods.”
Investigators said they aren’t sure what prompted the shooting.
“It is puzzling, and as we gather the information and put the pieces together, we’ll have a clearer picture of what encouraged this gentleman to do that,” said Indianapolis police Sgt. Linda Jackson.
Runnels joined the Marion County Sheriff’s Department in 1999.
Reprinted with permission from The Indy Channel