INDIANAPOLIS — Newly released body camera footage shows vehicle theft suspects shooting and wounding an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officer who was working to take them into custody, FOX 59 reported.
The officer, identified as Officer Renteria, who was outnumbered four-to-one, was attempting to detain suspects connected to a stolen vehicle on July 29.
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Dash camera footage shows the officer following a vehicle through an apartment complex before it was pulled into a parking lot. As Renteria got out of his vehicle, one suspect can be seen fleeing the scene on foot as two others got out of the car.
Renteria, now raising his gun, instructed the two other suspects to raise their hands. Both initially complied, leading him to begin taking one of the suspects into custody.
As Renteria worked to get one suspect onto the ground, another suspect climbed out of the vehicle. As he did, he appeared to hand a gun to another suspect. That suspect then raised the gun and began firing shots at Renteria. Renteria returned fire from the ground as all three remaining suspects fled.
Renteria was struck three times, with a fourth bullet hitting his ballistic vest, which prevented a potentially fatal injury, according to the report.
Body camera video shows Renteria applying a tourniquet to his leg. Bystanders also approached Renteria to offer aid, according to the video release.
The shooter was hit during the exchange of gunfire and found moments later in a nearby parking lot, unresponsive with a handgun beside him, according to the report. Officers approached behind a ballistic shield and rendered aid. The shooter was hospitalized but succumbed to his injuries nearly a month later.
The remaining three suspects were also arrested and charged.
Renteria was transported to the hospital in stable condition and released a few days later, according to the report. IMPD credited his ballistic vest, tactical response and ability to self-administer aid with helping save his life.
The investigation remains ongoing.
