IMPD: No arrest made in officer’s shooting, but no ongoing threat
Jen Guadarrama and Yasmeen Saadi
A police officer was injured in a shooting on the city’s far east side Friday and police were searching late into the night for whoever pulled the trigger.
Police said the event unfolded shortly after 8:30 p.m. in the 3600 block of North Wittfield Street, near East 36th Street and North Post Road in the city’s Northeastwood neighborhood when officers responded to a “shots fired” call in the area. Police were canvassing the area for potential victims and evidence relating to the call when the shooter then fired at the officers.
Shortly afterward, the immediate area was determined to be not safe and residents were asked to stay inside their homes and avoid the neighborhood. About 11:15 p.m., police said a sweep of the area — including with K-9s — did not surface a suspect, but they did not believe there was an ongoing threat.
“There’s a lot that we don’t know about this incident. And we’re hopeful that we will learn more later on,” Capt. Shane Foley said during a media briefing at the scene.
Chief Chris Bailey said the injured officer, who suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen and right arm, was taken to Eskenazi Hospital in stable condition and later underwent surgery.
“He is expected to make a full recovery, although (he) is going to be in the hospital for some days,” Bailey added.
Shortly before 1 a.m., during a briefing at the hospital, Asst. Chief Michael Wooley said a house also was hit by gunfire but no residents were struck. Wooley said no officers fired their weapons and body cameras were activated throughout the situation.
Police have not released a description of the suspect in the shooting, who remained at large early Saturday.
“Right now, officers are all over the city looking for the individual or individuals responsible for what happened,” Bailey said.
Anyone with information or video footage of the incident is asked to call 911.
2nd officer shot this year
The shooting marks the second time an Indianapolis police officer has been injured by gunfire in 2024. In March, an off-duty officer working security at an east side bar on East Washington Street was hit in an exchange of gunfire with at least one suspect. A man who was injured in that shooting died at a local hospital.
The bar where that shooting happened, 11:11 Bar & Grille, located at 9439 E. Washington St., was closed by unanimous vote of the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission.