INDIANAPOLIS —The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department released bodycam footage showing an officer fatally shooting a man armed with a machete while investigating a car crash, FOX 59 reported.
The suspect was shot after charging at an officer with the weapon. According to police, the suspect had earlier used the machete to attack a woman and also injured a man by intentionally ramming a vehicle occupied by both victims.
Incident overview
On Dec. 4, 2024, IMPD officers responded to reports of an armed man involved in a crash, according to the report. Witnesses described the suspect behaving erratically and wielding a machete.
Body and dashcam footage show an officer arriving at the scene and repeatedly ordering the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect instead ran toward the officer, who backed away while issuing additional instructions before firing five shots.
The man fell to the ground but still held the machete. The officer called in the shooting and placed the suspect in custody before additional officers arrived to administer first aid. The man was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the report.
Investigation and response
Detectives determined that the man had attacked a woman with the machete and injured a man in a vehicle collision before police arrived, according to the report. Both victims, who reportedly knew the suspect, were hospitalized in stable condition.
A witness told detectives that the man had expressed an intent to die by “suicide by cop,” but responding officers were unaware of this at the time of the encounter, according to the report.
IMPD Chief Chris Bailey described the incident as a “tough situation” for officers, saying he was grateful no officers were injured but was “heartbroken” over the victims’ injuries.
The officer who fired his weapon has been placed on administrative leave per department policy, according to the report. Multiple independent investigations into the shooting are underway, including reviews by IMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team, Internal Affairs Unit, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and the Indy Civilian-Majority Use of Force Review Board.
