Lansing, IN — A man was injured Thursday afternoon after he fired at a police vehicle during a foot chase on the city’s west side. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Chris Bailey confirmed that the man, who sustained a graze wound to his neck, is expected to survive after being taken to the hospital for treatment.
The incident unfolded around 3:37 p.m. when IMPD officers responded to a report of shots fired at the Cloverleaf Apartments, located in the 900 block of South Kiel Avenue. According to Chief Bailey, the suspect had been involved in a disturbance with family members, during which he allegedly fired three rounds from a handgun in the parking lot. The suspect also reportedly pointed the weapon at his family members before fleeing the scene.
A 911 caller provided a description of the man and indicated that he was still armed and in the area. Officers were able to track the suspect’s whereabouts with the help of additional witnesses. One of them flagged down an officer, alerting them that the suspect was still nearby.
A short time later, officers located the man at the apartment complex and ordered him to stop. The suspect, however, fled on foot, leading officers on a pursuit through several blocks into a neighborhood near the intersection of Waldemere Avenue and Biltmore Gardens.
As the officer chased the suspect, the man allegedly fired his handgun at a marked IMPD patrol car, with at least one officer inside. In response, the officer pursuing the suspect fired his weapon, striking the man and causing a graze wound to his neck.
Wayne Township Fire Department medics were dispatched to the scene, and the man was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No officers or bystanders were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
Chief Bailey addressed the media later that evening, expressing his concern over the increasing intersection of mental health issues and gun violence in the community. “There’s a lot of people in our community who have guns,” Bailey said, his voice emotional. “And there are a lot of people who are suffering from mental health and other crises. Those two never go well together.”
Bailey also emphasized the importance of providing mental health support before situations escalate to violence. “We’d rather people get the help they need before it gets to the point where you are pointing a gun in someone’s face, allegedly, and firing rounds,” he added. “We didn’t ask for any of this. We are saddled with a much bigger societal problem that has to be addressed.”
The incident drew attention from local witnesses, including an employee at the nearby Dollar Tree store, who described seeing people running after hearing gunshots but not immediately understanding what had occurred. “I was freaking out because we see crazy stuff around here all the time,” said Debbie Geralds, a Dollar Tree employee. “People running, cops everywhere… I saw the kid running, and customers were rushing back to their cars.”
The suspect, whose identity has not been released by police, remains hospitalized as investigators determine whether criminal charges will be filed. Bailey confirmed that the officer who fired his weapon has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure for IMPD in cases involving police shootings. Other officers involved in the incident were also placed on administrative leave, at their own request.
IMPD has opened an internal investigation into the shooting, and the public is encouraged to come forward with any additional information. Detective Michael Duke can be reached at 317-327-3475, or tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana.
The shooting is the latest in a series of incidents involving gun violence in Indianapolis, underscoring growing concerns about public safety and the need for better mental health resources in the community.
